THE TWO HERMITS

Upon a lonely mountain, there lived two
hermits who worshiped God and loved
one another.

  Now these two hermits had one earthen
bowl, and this was their only possession.

  One day an evil spirit entered into the 
heart of the older hermit and he came to
the younger and said, "It is long that we
have lived together.  The time has come
for us to part.  Let us divide our posses-
sions."

  Then the younger hermit was saddened
and he said, "It grieves me, Brother, that
thou shouldst leave me.  But if thou
must needs go, so be it," and he brought the
earthen bowl and gave it to him saying,
"We cannot divide it, Brother, let it be
thine."

  Then the older hermit said, "Charity I
will not accept.  I will take nothing but
mine own.  It must be divided."

  And the younger one said, "If the bowl
be broken, of what use would it be to thee
or to me?  If it be thy pleasure let us
rather cast a lot."

  But the older hermit said again, "I will
have but justice and mine own, and I will
not trust justice and mine own to vain
chance.  The bowl must be divided."

  Then the younger hermit could reason
no further and he said, "If it be indeed thy
will, and if even so thou wouldst have it
let us now break the bowl."

  But the face of the older hermit grew
exceeding dark, and he cried, "O thou
cursed coward, thou wouldst not fight."