A beggar solicited alms from Hodja. “Are you extravagant?” asked Hodja. “Yes Hodja,” replied the beggar.
“Do you like sitting around drinking coffee and smoking?” asked Hodja. “Yes,” replied the beggar.
“I suppose you like to go to the baths everyday?” asked Hodja, “…and maybe amuse yourself, even, by drinking with friends?” “Yes I like all those things,” replied the beggar.
“Tut, tut,” said Hodja, and gave him a gold piece.
A few yards farther on another beggar, who had overheard the conversation, begged for alms also. “Are you extravagant?” asked Hodja. “No, Hodja,” replied second beggar.
“Do you like sitting around drinking coffee and smoking?” asked Hodja. “No,” replied second beggar.
“I suppose you like to go to the baths everyday?” asked Hodja, “…and maybe amuse yourself, even, by drinking with friends?” asked Hodja.
“No, I want only to live meagerly and to pray,” replied second beggar.
Whereupon the Hodja gave him a small copper coin.
“But why,” wailed second beggar, “do you give me, an economical and pious man, just a penny, when you give that extravagant fellow a sovereign?” “Ah my friend,” replied Hodja, “his needs are greater than yours.”