Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family were rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guestroom. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, things are not always what they seem.
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor but hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharng what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good nights rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was furious, and asked the older angel how could he have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.
Things are not always what they seem, the older angel replied. When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in the hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.
Last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.
Things are not always what they seem.
