He  would  only  squander  it  away."

"  Never  mind,"  persisted  the  wife.  "  He  will  learn  wis-
dom in  this  way  only.  Give  him  some  money,  and  let
him  visit  distant  countries.  If  he  makes  money,  then  we
may  hope  that  he  will  value  it.  If  he  loses  the  money,
and  becomes  a  beggar,  then  we  may  hope,  also,  that  he
will  value  it  when  he  again  gets  it.  By  either  experience
he  will  profit.  Without  one  of  these  experiences  he  will
never  be  fit  for  anything."

The  merchant  was  persuaded,  and  calling  his  son,  gave
him  a  certain  amount  of  money  and  some  goods  and
servants,  and  bidding  him  be  careful,  sent  him  away.     The


ALL  FOR  A  PANSA.  149

young  merchant  set  out  with  his  wife  and  a  great  company
of  servants.  The  caravan  had  not  proceeded  far  before
they  passed  a  large  garden,  which  was  completely  sur-
rounded by  thick  high  walls.  "What  is  this  place?'
asked  the  young  merchant.  "  Go  and  see  what  is  inside.''
The  servants  went,  and  came  back  and  informed  their
master  that  they  had  seen  a  grand,  lofty  building  in  the
midst  of  a  beautiful  garden.  Then  the  young  merchant
himself  went  and  entered  the  garden.  On  looking  at  the
grand  building  he  saw  a  lovely  woman,  who  beckoned  to
him  to  come  and  play  a  game  of  nard  5  with  her.  This
woman  was  an  inveterate  gambler.  She  was  acquainted
with  all  manner  of  tricks  for  getting  her  opponent's
money.  One  of  her  favourite  tricks  was  this :  while  play-
ing she  kept  by  her  side  a  cat  that  she  had  taught  at  a
given  sign  to  brush  by  the  lamp  and  extinguish  the  light-
This  sign  she  always  gave  when  the  game  was  going
against  her.  In  this  way,  of  course,  she  obtained  im-
mense wealth.  She  practised  the  cat-trick  on  the  young
merchant  much  to  his  loss.  Everything  went  —  his
money,  his  merchandise,  his  wife,  his  servants,  himself;
and  then,  when  there  was  nothing  left,  he  was  put  in
prison.  Here  he  was  treated  with  great  harshness.  Often
he  lifted  up  his  voice  and  prayed  that  God  would  take
him  out  of  this  troublous  world.
