Jewish Fairy Tales and Stories BY GERALD FRIEDLANDER. PREFACE the stories in this little book, except the first, have been collected from various Jewish writings. No attempt has been made to give a literal translation. The stories have been retold in a modern setting. Some of them may possibly recall a few wellknown tales and parables. Most of them are original, and on that account of more than sing interest, apart from their intrinsic value. Something of the spirit of Israel lies concealed in the old Jewish stories. It is the earnest hope of the present writer that a little of this spirit will be found to be revealed in the following pages. G. F. CONTENTS CHE BLACK DWARF - THE GIANT OG - THE LUCK OF NAHUM - HEAD OR TAIL - THE RINGS SERVANTS - A DREAM OF PARADISE A JUST KING - - THE SEVEN SONS. - THE MAGIC RING - PAGE - 1. The Black Dwarf - - The Black Dwarf. Jewish Fairy Tales THE BLACK DWARF T HERE once lived long, long ago, in some happy land, a Jew named Samuel. He was most pious, but, as so often happens with the good, he was unfortunately very poor. He had an aged mother to keep, as well as a charming wife and two sons. He dealt in cheap second-hand old clothes. His scanty earnings barely sufficed to enable him to make both ends meet. It often happened that the family had neither meat nor vegetables from Sunday to Friday. He generally managed, however, to find sufficient money to procure a substantial meal of fish, meat and wine for the Sabbath. His object was to honour the holy Day of Rest in accordance with the good old Jewish custom. In spite of his extreme poverty he was. always ready to share his frugal fare with those less fortunate than himself. Jew and Gentile were always welcome at his table. He was a man of principles which he strove to put into practice. One of his rules was never to spend quite as much as he earned. Another was never to lose heart, so much so that he was wont to exclaim on sundry occasions If God should help me and make me a man of means, I will help others to get on in the world. It happened one Friday morning, when he was going his usual round, that he saw himself all of a sudden confronted by a dwarf with a very long black beard. The little man was dressed in a smart black suit. He was closely examining the bundle of old clothes on Samuels arm. What have you got there l asks the dwarf. Samuel replies Old clothes for sale. 9 What is the price of this suit on top, which I , see is black 1 queries the dwarf. Samuel answers The price is ten shillings. I cannot afford to take less, but if it should please the good God to help me and to make me a man of means, I promise to give you an entire suit free of charge. So be it, cries the dwarf I agree to purchase this suit for ten shillings. I am sorry to tell you that I do not happen to have all that money about me just now. I will, however, give you half a crown as a deposit. One day I svill call on you and pay you the balance. Meanwhile please be good enough to keep the suit for me, for it is now mine. Do you agree cc Most gladly, replies Samuel, who put forth his hand to receive the half-crown. The next moment the dwarf was no longer to be seen. cc Well, I never said Samuel. cc I have never seen such a funny little fellow, all in black, with such a long beard, and then to disappear just as suddenly as he crossed my path. Very strange Most peculiar Samuel looked hither and thither for him, but all in vain. cc He must be lost in the crowd of passers-by, he said to himself... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.