son
        once went hunting, and lost himself in that wood, and
        while he was seeking his way it became night.  He was
        weary and hungry.  Imagine how he felt.  But all at once
        he saw a light shining in the distance.  He followed it
        and reached the huntsman’s house, and asked for lodging
        and something to eat.  The huntsman recognised him at
        once and said:  “Highness, we have already supped on our
        best; but if we can find anything for you, you must be
        satisfied with it.  What can we do?  We are so far from
        the towns that we cannot procure what we need every
        day.”  Meanwhile he had a capon cooked for him.  The
        prince did not wish to eat it alone, so he called all
        the huntsman’s family, and gave the head of the capon to
        the father, the back to the mother, the legs to the son,
        and the wings to the daughter, and ate the rest himself. 
        In the house there were only two beds, in the same room. 
        In one the husband and wife slept, in the other the
        brother and sister.  The old people went and slept in the
        stable, giving up their bed to the prince.  When the girl
        saw that the prince was asleep, she said to her brother: 
        “I will wager that you do not know why the prince
        divided the capon among us in the manner he did.”  “Do
        you know?  Tell me why.”  “He gave the head to our father,
        because he is the head of the family; the back to our
        mother, because she has on her shoulders all the affairs
        of the house; the legs to you, because you must be quick
        in performing the errands which are given you; and the
        wings to me, to fly away and catch a husband.”  The
        prince pretended to be asleep, but he was awake and
        heard these words, and perceived that the girl had much
        judgment, and as she was also pretty, he fell in love
        with her [and ultimately married this clever girl].

V

MORAL TALES, FABLES, AND PARABLES.

Reverence for parents, which is still a marked characteristic of Eastern races, has ever been strongly inculcated by the Jewish Fathers; and the noble conduct of Damah, the son of Nethuna, towards both his father and mother, is adduced in the Talmud as an example for all times and every condition of life: 

A Dutiful Son.

The mother of Damah was unfortunately insane, and would frequently not only abuse him but strike him in the presence of his companions; yet would not this dutiful son suffer an ill word to escape his lips, and all he used to say on such occasions was:  “Enough, dear mother, enough.”  One of the precious stones attached to the high priest’s sacerdotal garments was once, by some means or other,