The Tale of Eleazar

The carpenter’s house was full of the perfume of woodshavings from his workshop set in the hillside above the two rooms where he lived. My little mistress loved to watch him working, to see the curling shavings fall from his plane and to feel the sweetness of the hard wood as she ran her fingers along the newly smoothed surface. But I have wandered from the wedding feast. All the village was gathered there. The fishermen had come up from the lake bringing fine baskets of silver fish. There was newly baked bread, and wine pressed from the choicest grapes; smooth skinned dark green olives and honeycomb from the wild black bees. There was laughter and happiness as the guests washed their hands and feet at the door, and it bubbled everywhere. All jealousy and spite were blown away that day. My master, Joachim, gave me wholly to my little mistress as a wedding gift, so I followed after her up the hill to the carpenter’s house, her new home. When she became heavy with child I worked harder than I had ever worked before. Every morning and evening they slung the water pitchers across my back. I had to tread deftly from the well so as not to slop the water, and when not a drop was spilt, I was always very well rewarded.