because I, a while since, was sick with eating of fruit."
Gaius. Forbidden fruit will make you sick; but not what our Lord has allowed.
While they were thus talking, they were presented with another dish, and it was a dish of nuts. Then said some at the table, "Nuts spoil tender teeth, specially the teeth of children;" which, when Gaius heared, he said;
"Hard texts are nuts (I will not call them cheaters),
Whose shells do keep their kernels from the eaters;
Ope then the shells, and you shall have the meat:
They here are brought for you to crack and eat."
Then were they very merry, and sat at the table a long time, talking of many things. Then said the old gentleman, "My good landlord, while we are cracking your nuts, if you please, do you open this riddle;
"A man there was, though some did count him mad,
The more he cast away, the more he had."
Then they all gave good heed, wondering what good Gaius would say: so he sat still awhile, and then thus replied:
"He that bestows his goods upon the poor
Shall have as much again, and ten times more."
Then said Joseph, "I dare say, sir, I did not think you could have found it out."
"Oh!" said Gaius, "I have been trained up in this way a great while: nothing teaches like ex-
