Letter: T-S 13J22.9

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life."

The servant informs the domicile of the dear

young man, the noble branch, the one who (both) knows (the commandments)

and performs (them), our master and teacher Bera'kho't the wise

scholar and teacher, may his name exist forever;

I inform you that I am very anxious to hear

your happy news, and that I never stop telling about

and asking about your honor everyone who arrives

from your place. When I hear that you are

healthy and well I am very happy. We had

expected your coming on S'abbat Bere'si't.

The "sound one" longs for you and asks about you

constantly. I did intend to come down instead of sending this letter,

and had in mind asking your advice. Know, that this

place does not pay me enough even for the poll-tax, nor for

clothes or living expenses, except for myself, for I get

no more than five (dirhems a week), while I need every day

at least three quarters (of a dirhem) for living expenses,

and I don't earn enough even for washing

a suit of clothes. They did budget for me on (the Day of) Atonement

seventy dirhems in the presence of the elder al-Rashi'd,

but until today I did not receive more

than four dirhems. The elder

"the sound" fulfilled his debt,

both his son Thana'' and also S'e'mu'l and Mus'awwir promised fifty

dirhems but, - as God is my witness, I received

only one dirhem from S'e'mu'l. What shall I do?

To whom shall I speak? "By day the heat consumed me

and my sleep fled from my eyes."

Our master the chief had promised

(your) servant a year ago today (to pay for me) all of the poll-tax.

A year came and a year went by, and I did not receive

anything from him. So I have become perplexed

in thinking about what I ought to do. "Whither shall I go

from thy spirit?" I do ask you to endeavor

to sell my booklets that (I deposited) with you

as much as you can, or else hand them over to someone

who will travel around with them (trying to sell them). I had sent

with the young man, son of the So'fe'r the grocer

four books and said to him, "hand them over

to the elder Baraka't son of the judge or

to the teacher, the elder Ma'a'li'." I ask

you to endeavor to sell them. Whatever

they yield is from

God and you. Inform your father (of my state)

and greet him; perhaps he could mention your servant

to our master. Let me know what happens.

I have no friends left except

God and you. Don't delay in (settling) my affairs and don't

....... . If you don't arrange it, I will come to live with you in

your house and you will suffer from me. May the letter of my patron

be received by his servant accompanied by something which one may lean

against. Peace. To your father and whoever else is

with you best of peace. May you have peace

and your house have peace. Don't think badly of me.

Your slave Da'u'd son of the H'a've'r from

      Qalyu'b