| Show THE TWO MISERS A miser living in kufa had heard that in basso ra also there dwelt a miser more miserly than himself to whom lie he might go to school and from whom lie he might learn much he forthwith journeyed thither and presented himself to the great master as an humble in the art of avarice anxious to learn and under him to q become a student welcome r aid said ald the miser of ot Bs basora sora we will straight go to the market to make some purchases they went to the baker hast thou good bread good indeed my masters and fresh and soft as butter 5 mark this friend said the he man of bassora to the one of kufa butter is compared with bread as being the better of the two as we can only consume a small quantity of that it will also be cheaper and we shall therefore act more wisely and aud savin gly too in being satisfied with butter they then went to the butter merchant and asked if lie he had good butter good indeed and find flavory and fresh as the finest fittest olive oil was the answer answer mark this also said the host to his guest oil is compared with the best butter and therefore by much ought to be preferred to the tiie latter T they hey next went to the oil vender have you good oil the very best quality white and transparent as water was the tho reply mark amark that too said the miser of bassora to the one okuda of kufa by this rule water is the very best now at home I 1 have a pail full and most hospitably therewith will I 1 entertain you and indeed on their heir return nothing but water did he lie place before his guest because they tiley had learned i hat water was better than oil oil better than butter er butter better than thin bread god be praised 11 said the tile miser of kufa 1 ill I have not journeyed this long iong distance in vain |
