Two traveling angels sought shelter and were treated poorly by a wealthy family, who
made them sleep in a cold basement. Noticing a crack in the wall, the older angel
patched it up, explaining that “things are not always what they seem.” The next night,
they stayed with a humble, poor farmer and his wife who generously shared everything
they had.

In the morning, the couple wept because their only cow had died overnight. The younger
angel was outraged that the older angel helped the rude wealthy family fix a wall while
letting the poor couple lose their only livelihood. The older angel explained that gold was
hidden behind the rich family’s wall, which he sealed so they wouldn’t find it, and that he
offered the cow to the Angel of Death in place of the farmer’s wife, reminding his
companion that God works in unseen ways.