2o6 The Legends of the Jews
intended to build a palace, and he rejoiced to hear that his new slave was an architect. He promised Elijah liberty if within six months he completed the edifice. After nightfall of the same day, Elijah offered a prayer, and instantaneously the palace stood in its place in complete perfection. Elijah disappeared. The next morning the prince was not a little astonished to see the palace finished. But when he sought his slave to reward him, and sought him in vain, he realized that he had had dealings with an angel. Elijah meantime repaired to the man who had sold him, and related his story to him, that he might know he had not cheated the purchaser out of his price ; on the contrary, he had enriched him, since the palace was worth a hundred times more than the money paid for the pretended slave."
A similar thing happened to a well-to-do man who lost his fortune, and became so poor that he had to do manual labor in the field of another. Once, when he was at work, he was accosted by Elijah, who had assumed the appearance of an Arab: "Thou art destined to enjoy seven good years. When dost thou want them — now, or as the closing years of thy life ? " The man replied : " Thou art a wizard ; go in peace, I have nothing for thee." Three times the same question was put, three times the same reply was given. Finally the man said : " I shall ask the advice of my wife." When Elijah came again, and repeated his question, the man, following the counsel of his wife, said : " See to it that seven good years come to us at once." Elijah replied : " Go home. Before thou crossest thy threshold, thy good fortune will have filled thy house." And so it was. His children had found a treasure in the ground, and, as he was about to
