There is this story about a landowner, his servant and Death. This story has appeared in many traditions in one version or another over the years. This is the way I remember it.
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Once there was a landowner who sent his servant into the marketplace to buy some groceries. When the servant left for the marketplace, the landowner went down to his stables to clean out some stalls and tend to his horses.
The landowner was in one of the stalls when the servant came running into the barn and started to saddle the landowner’s best horse. The landowner could see that the servant was very upset and came out of the stall to find out what had happened.
“Why are you so upset?” the landowner asked the servant.
The servant stopped saddling the horse for a moment and turned to the landowner. “I am sorry I didn’t bring back the things you sent me into the marketplace to get,” he said. “But, while I was shopping, I met Death, and he gave me such a look that I was chilled to the bones.”
The servant was shaking as he told his story. “I think he was looking for me in the marketplace, and I ran away. I just wanted to get away from him as fast as I could. That’s why I came back for your fastest horse.”
The landowner could see how afraid the servant was and felt a great compassion for his faithful servant. “Where will you go?” he asked.
“I have a cousin across the desert in Samaria. I will go there,” replied the servant.
“You are welcome to my horse. Take him, and God speed,” said the landowner. With that the servant finished saddling the horse and was off across the desert without delay
Once the servant was gone, the landowner went into the marketplace to get the supplies his servant had abandoned in his fear. There he met Death and asked him, “Why did you frighten my servant so?”
“I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten him,” replied Death. “I was simply surprised to see him here in the marketplace, for I have an appointment with him in Samaria this evening.”
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