a tale of justice from Ireland
There once was a poor widow, and she had three children: two sons and a daughter. They were her every joy. They were clever children, and she wanted to give them the best schooling so they could make something of themselves. Since the widow had no money, no jewels, and no property, she sold the only thing she had – her immortal soul. And, of course, she sold it to the Devil. It was that much she loved those babes.
The Devil gave her a bag of gold sovereigns and said, “I’ll be back for you in twenty years.” Then he settled back until the time he could collect on his debt. He watched and waited, and he watched and waited as the widow spent every coin on education. A good investment it was. The children studied hard and made her proud. The oldest son became a priest, the second son became a doctor, and the daughter became a lawyer. As the years went by, the widow became old and ill.
When the twenty years had passed, the widow lay dying. Her son, the priest, was at her bedside praying. There was a rumble of thunder, a crash of lightning. The door flung open, and in walked the Devil. The priest blocked the way, but the Devil pushed him aside. “Out of me way, I’ve come for your mother.” The priest fell to his knees and prayed that his mother be spared. The Devil gave her one more year of life. Why did the Devil grant an extra year? Perhaps he wanted to court the soul of the priest.
When that year was up, the widow again lay dying. Her son, the doctor, was at her bedside. There was a rumble of thunder and a clap of lightning, and the door flung open. In walked the Devil. The doctor blocked the way. “Out of me way, I’ve come for your mother.” The doctor fell to his knees and pleaded that his mother be spared. And he got one more year off the Devil. Maybe the Devil had a tender spot for moms.
When that year was up, the widow lay dying. There was a rumble of thunder, a clap of lightning. The door flung open, and the Devil came a third time to claim the old woman. He found the daughter there. The Devil called out, “Don’t be using any woman’s tears on me. I’m here to take my due. A bargain is a bargain.” But the daughter did not weep.
Then the Devil remembered she was a lawyer. “And don’t be using your legal words and your courtroom tricks on me.”
She said, “You’ve given sparing to my mother twice already, and I know you can’t be expected to do it again.”
“What a fair-minded lawyer,” thought the Devil.
“But,” says she, “my brothers have not kissed our mother farewell. They will be here soon. Please, just a few more minutes. Will you give her sparing till-till that stub of a candle burns away?”
The Devil turned and looked at the candle burning on the table.
It was only a stub of candle, soon to sputter and die.
”All right,” said the Devil. “Until the candle burns away-not a second more.”
“A bargain is a bargain,” the lawyer said. Before the Devil knew what was happening, she walked to the table, picked up the candle, and blew it out! And then she put it in her pocket.
That was that! It was clear the candle would never be relit and would never burn away. The Devil left without the mother’s soul.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
