tree.' And I got up and went to the date-tree, and looked and saw it was true, there was not so much as one date there. So then, this is the news from the garden, and I have no more."
And he said, "I asked you the news from the garden, and you told me two sorts of news; you told me there was good news and bad. I have seen already the bad news, that my dates have been eaten by some bird, so tell me the good." And he said, "And the good, is it not that I your son have come back safe?" And he said, "Not my son, I don't want you." And he said, "A son like you only to eat and to sleep, when it shall happen that any one shall say to you, 'Here father take some of this dust and put in my eyes,' you will refuse [for laziness]. What sort of a son are you then? I don't want you, go your way, father."
And he said to them, "This time when my date-tree bears I will send another son, perhaps he will watch, and perhaps I shall get some dates to taste the crop."
And he waited many months, and the date-tree bore so well as was never the like, and he waited till near the ripening. I suppose there remained but one day before the ripening. And he took a son, and sent him, and he said, "My son, I send you to the garden, I long for those dates that I may taste them this year." And he said, "My father, I am going now, and in the morning when the sun has past seven o'clock, send me some one to come and take the dates." And he said, "Very good, my son, I should like to taste the dates to-morrow."
And the son arose and went his way. When he reached the garden he slept soundly till it was, I suppose, one o'clock in the morning, and he arose and went to the date-tree, and saw the dates were fine and the bunches swinging. And he saw the date-tree was very flourishing, and he
