The Masterful Sculptor and Ananias the Beggar

There lived a masterful sculptor in the town of Charran, and his skills were unmatched before his time, and hereafter. For what so his eyes laid upon, and his vision depicted, did his hands fashioned. And beyond belief was it.

And it was so, on a certain day of the months, the sculptor would open his gate wall and allow the townspeople to watch him fashion his mighty works. And some came from neighboring towns, and even afar off lands to see what great wonder has come to be.

The masterful sculptor sold many pieces, and used his gains to help the poor, and combat much famine in the land. And beyond measure was he beloved throughout all Charran.

Upon a night, an out-of-town beggar named Ananias entered the town of Charran. He came before the house of the sculptor not knowing him thereof, and within himself saying: “Surely, the owner is beyond prosperous, and shall have nourishments in abundant. What shall be lost unto him if I take but a mince thereof.”

Ananias then entered himself over the gate wall, and into the sculptor’s house. And it was so, while the sculptor was asleep in an upper room, Ananias begins filling his sacks with food, and many fine things.
And when he turned to go his way, the sculptor was straightway before him, but Ananias the beggar never heard the word of the sculptor. For out of fright, with his blade ran the sculptor through killing him.

And about two miles upon leaving Charran, he came amongst two beggars whom he knew. And the one seeing his sacks full of goods said unto him. “So, it is true, the sculptor is a Just man who cares about the poor. Where before so many scoffed, and turned us away to leave us to ourselves, he shall not.”

The other beggar asked, “Did you see the sculptor; was his house as glorious as they say? And was he as welcoming and kind as so reported?” And Ananias the beggar murmured saying,” Yea, his house is most beautiful, and kind is he.” And the two beggars went hastily to see the sculptor.

And beyond consoling became Ananias, for now, his thoughts led to the stories told and expressed well of the sculptor of Charran. And gathering also within him plainly was his encounter with the sculptor in full clarity.

Ananias, becoming as a dead-man, dropped himself upon the land weeping, and bitterly murmuring the sculptor’s last spoken word, saying: “Welcome… welcome… welcome.”