The Angel's Tear


  AN Unworthy Man who had laughed at the woes of a Woman whom he 
loved, was bewailing his indiscretion in sack-cloth-of-gold and 
ashes-of-roses, when the Angel of Compassion looked down upon him, 
saying:

  "Poor mortal! - how unblest not to know the wickedness of laughing 
at another's misfortune!"

  So saying, he let fall a great tear, which, encountering in its 
descent a current of cold air, was congealed into a hail-stone.  
This struck the Unworthy Man on the head and set him rubbing that 
bruised organ vigorously with one hand while vainly attempting to 
expand an umbrella with the other.

  Thereat the Angel of Compassion did most shamelessly and wickedly 
laugh.