Long ago there was a wealthy merchant who had only one son, whom he instructed in the Torah and all of the other sacred books. Now his son grew older and married, and the merchant saw his son's children in his own lifetime. And when the merchant lay on his deathbed he called his son to him and said: Know that I possess great riches, and I am leaving all of these to you on one condition—that you swear never to sail across the sea. For I have made my fortune through sea voyages, and I have learned all too well the dangers lurking at sea. Therefore, if you should break the vow, then I bequeath all my property to heaven instead. Then the son solemnly swore that he would never undertake a voyage at sea, and shortly after that his father passed away from the world. A year or two later a ship reached the harbor of that town, loaded with gold, silver, and many precious gems. When the men of that ship had disembarked, they tried to seek out the rich merchant, and when they discovered that h