IN GOOD HUMOR

 
MERWAN'S FATHER, Sheriar, was a kind and generous man. Even when he was older, Sheriar had the forbearing qualities of an ascetic. He had not become rich in business but was successful. He would always put aside money to give to the poor, and not only gave money, but also blankets and clothing.

If the toddy shop closed unusually late at night, he would sleep there instead of returning home. Having slept many a night in the cold as a wandering dervish, he knew the pain of being homeless and sleeping on the streets. If he saw any poor person shivering in the cold, he would inevitably give away his own blanket to him.

This happened often, and one day Shireen remarked, "If we had collected the amount of blankets Sherog has given away, instead of a toddy shop we could have opened a blanket shop by now." Seeing their father's reaction to their mother's remark, the children laughed, and the remark was taken in good humor.