and when he nods with his head, the comforters may not sit with him any longer, that they may not trouble him more than is necessary. If a man dies, and there are no mourners to be comforted, ten worthy men go and sit in his place all the seven days of mourning; and the rest of the people gather to them; and if there are not ten fixed every day, ten of the rest of the people gather together, and sit in his place:''for this business of comforting mourners was reckoned an act of great piety and mercy ; and these Jews here might come, not so much out of respect to the dead, or to his sisters, as because it was thought to be a meritorious act.
Pirke Abot, c. 4. sect. 18. Gloss in Cetubot, fol. 8. 2. & in Beracot, fol. 16. 2. Gloss in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 19. 1. T. Bab. Moed Katon, fol. 23. 1. Massech. Semachot, c. 6. fol. 14. 3. Hilch. Ebel, c.
13. sect. 1, 2, 3, 4. Maimon. in Misn. Peah, c. 1. sect.