TWELVE WEAVERS

Outline.

Twelve weavers on a journey --- cross a river --- count themselves --- eleven --- all worried --- a passer-by --- produces the lost man --- How? --- the weavers thankful to him.

The Story.

Once upon a time twelve weavers set out on a long journey to attend a marriage. They had to swim across a river. They thanked God, when they reached the other bank. But they wanted to count themselves before resuming their journey. Each, forgetting himself, counted eleven. So they were filled with grief and began to weep. A traveler happened to pass by. He asked them what had happened. They told him the whole story. He laughed at their folly. He said that he could produce the missing man. Then he counted twelve by giving a stroke with his shoe to every one of them. They thanked him for his kindness and took their way to the bridegroom’s house.