tling him to two hundred yards of Paradise,
and offered the collector a handsome commission if he would help him
in disposing of it. When the money had been gathered for the quarter,
the collector came and discounted the Imam's document, returning it to
him as two hundred piasters of the tithes collected, with the
statement that this document had been given to him by a peasant, and
that bearing his holy seal, he dared not refuse it.

The Imam was completely deceived, and thought that the Jew had sold
the deed at a discount to some of his subjects who were in arrears,
and of course had to receive it as being as good as gold. Nevertheless
the Jew was not forgotten, and the Imam determined to have him taken
into court and sentenced if possible. His charge against the Jew was
that he, the chief priest of the province, had taken pity on this
Jew, thinking what a terrible thing it was to know no future, and as
the man hitherto had an irreproachable character, in consideration of
a small debt he had against the church, which it was desirable to
balance, he thought he would give this Jew two hundred yards of
Paradise, which he did.

"Now, gentlemen, this ungrateful dog sold this valuable document, and
it was brought back to me as payment of taxes in arrears due to the
church. Therefore, I say that this Jew has committed a great sin and
ought to be punished accordingly."

The Cadis now turned to hear the Jew, who, the personification of
meekness, stood as if awaiting his death sentence. With the most
innocent look possible, the Jew replied, when the Cadis asked him what
he had to say for himself:

"Effendim, it is needless to say how I appreciate the kindness of our
Imam, but the reason that I disposed of that valuable document was
this: When I went to Paradise I found a seat, and measured out my two
hundred yards, and took possession of the further inside end of the
bench. I had not been there long when a Turk came and sat beside me. I
showed him my document and protested against his taking part of my
seat; but, gentlemen, I assure you it was altogether useless; the
Turks came and came, one after the other, till, to make a long story
short, I fell off at the other end of the seat, and here I am. The
Turks in Paradise will take no heed of your document, and either will
not recognize the authority of the Imam, or will not let the Jews
enter therein.

"Effendim, what could I do but come back and sell the document to men
who