to compensate for the ruined joke, R Twersky talks about a miser who asked a Rav what to do with a quarrelling wife who does not accept a divorce. Rav quoted Gemora saying that an unfulfilled tzedoka pledge is punished by the early death of the wife. He says – great, goes pledges, comes back – she is not dying. Rav explains – this is supposed to be a punishment, not a reward! Go buy her gifts, talk nicely to her … does that, comes back – she is now very nice to me! Do you still want her to die? No! Then, quickly run fulfil your pledge!