My poor, dear little neighbour! Ah, would that thou had lived to bury me, my little neighbour!"[5] 'Meanwhile the stranger waiting for the water grew impatient, and he once more ventured to interrupt the work of sheep-stuffing with a remark that the young girl was long returning with her pitcher.

The priest said: "That is true," and sent his second daughter to expedite the first.

This girl went running to the spring, and found the population of the village sitting weeping on the ground around her sister.

She asked the matter.

They replied: "A great calamity! Thy sister--poor distracted mother!--will inform thee of its nature." She ran up to Nesibeh, who moaned out: "I am a big girl now.