Akiba had a pious wife. She fed 500 pupils. Before death she asked her daughter to continue her work. Akiba married a bad woman. Jealous of her step-daughter, she paid the the washer-man to take the girl away and kill her and told the daughter to follow him with the clothes. At her request he saved her life but cut off her hands and feet. She dragged herself along to a solitary spot. A merchant passed by. Being the eve of Sabbath, he settled down, erected his tent and said his prayers. She answered "Amen” from behind the tent. Discovered by him, he took her home and married her, not knowing whose daughter she was. He made her hands of gold and feet of
silver. A son was born and she urged him to go to R. Akiba to study. There the step-mother learned what had happened. She forged a letter in the name of the husband which she sent to his family, to take away her hands and feet of gold, to tie the baby on her back and to cast her out, being of low origin. They did so. Coming to a river, the baby wanted to drink. She was frightened lest it would slip into the water and wept. The prophet Elijah came, told her to put her stumps into the water and new hands grew. He told her to go to the next town, where she would find a treasure, and to buy a palace with it. She built an inn close by for all the travellers. The husband came and learning what had happened, went in search of his wife. He came to that place, was served with the others by his son, now a lad of nine years. He refused to eat and drink and asked the reason, told the story, was recognised by the wife and remained there, bringing his parents with him, where they lived in peace.