It happened once upon a time that a deaf man came to know that someone in his village was sick, and he thought to himself, “It is a religious duty to visit the sick and comfort them.  I will go today to see him. Surely a little conversation will make him feel better.”  But being, as he thought, an observant man, he had noticed that most people seemed unable to speak above a mumble, perhaps because of some physical disability, and so he decided to first prepare himself.

“When I enter,” the deaf man thought, “I will say, ‘How are you?’  And the sick man will say, ‘I’m all right, thank you for asking.’ And then I will say, ‘Thank God.  I am happy to hear it.  And what medicine have you been taking?’  Then he will of course tell me he is taking such and such a medicine, and, to be positive, I will say, ‘Sent by the Divine Hand!  It is just what you need.  And who is your doctor?’  He will say, ‘Dr. So and so,’ and I will say, ‘The very best in this case. I hope he will come to see you today.’ Then he will perhaps ask if I would like a cup of tea, and I will say, “No thank you.  It has been so refreshing just to see you like this.”

Being thus prepared, the deaf man went to the home of the sick man.  Sitting down by the bed, he said, “How are you?”

“I’ve never felt worse,” said the sick man feebly. “I think I am dying.”

“Thank God,” said the deaf man. “I am happy to hear it.  And what medicine have you been taking?”

Astonished, the sick man said, “I don’t know. But the effect has been like a poison. Every pill makes me worse!”

“Sent by the Divine Hand!  It is just what you need.  And who is your doctor?”

Now deeply offended, the sick man said, “What does it matter to you?  The Angel of Death!”

“The very best in this case. I hope he will come to see you today!” said the deaf man with a smile.

“If he does, I’ll send him first to you!” groaned the sick man.

“No, thank you,” said the deaf man, “It has been so refreshing just to see you like this.”

And with that the deaf man left, feeling very pleased with his act of virtue.