“Now, now.”
Her husband returned to the field without further delay and found the
stranger awaiting his decision. When the labourer told him his wish to
enjoy there and then the promised wealth and prosperity, the stranger
opened his purse and took out two pieces of silver.
“Here, my friend,” he said, “take these two coins and return them to me
six years hence when I shall call on thee. Do not forget I shall
require my money to be restored to me when I come to demand it.”
After the labourer had taken the coins he thanked his benefactor and
promised to return the gift as arranged. In a second the stranger had
disappeared; no trace of the direction he had taken was discerned by
the labourer, who also recalled the fact that the stranger had come
upon him all of a sudden.
“Very strange,” he said; “there is some mystery about this stranger, he
seems to come from nowhere and to return to the same place.”
No sooner had the labourer placed the silver coins in his pocket than
he perceived a sudden change coming over him. He no longer felt the
same man. His poverty and sorrow fled away from him and a new feeling
of contentment and security arose in his heart. He bowed his head in
gratitude and thanked God for His manifold mercies.
Meanwhile, wonderful events were occurring in his home. His eldest son
was turning the soil in the garden at the back of their house, when he
saw gold glittering in the sunlight. He dug deeper and deeper and
continued to find the precious metal; in fact there was evidently a
treasure which had been lying hidden there all the years of their
poverty. The young man cried aloud in his joy. His mother and her other
sons came to see what was amiss. As soon as she saw what was happening
she sent her youngest son to his father. She said,—
“Do not fail to tell him that God has given us back our fortune.”
Before the door of their house, however, stood the father. In a moment
he was with his wife and children, and uniting with them gave thanks to
Him who giveth and taketh away.
The pious man and his virtuous wife resolved to make good use of their
wealth as long as it was entrusted to their care. They were very happy
because they were now in a position to help the poor who so sorely
needed their assistance. The wife said to her good husband,—
“My dear, we must not forget that our prosperity will not last for
ever. We are to be rich for six years only. Let us during this period
feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and assist the needy. We shall
always have the satisfaction of knowing that we made other people happy
during the years of our good fortune. We shall be happy in realizing
that we have made good use of our trust.”
“Verily,” he said, “the law of kindness is on thy tongue.”
Not a day passed without an occasion offering itself to these good
people to bestow their wealth upon those less fortunate than
themselves. They did not fail in seizing every opportunity of doing an
act of charity and kindness. The youngest son was told by his mother to
keep an account of their own expenses and also an account of the money
given in alms.
The six years passed like a dream. One day the expected benefactor came
to their house, and after receiving a warm welcome turned to his host
and said,—
“The six years have passed and I have come to ask thee to return my
money.”