The story of Baba Abdalla is a classic Arabic folktale that appears in the collection of the One Thousand and One Nights. It tells the story of a man who was so consumed by avarice it led him to his downfall.
In the story, Baba Abdalla ends up being a beggar, after all his struggle and the loss of his wealth. He then asks everyone who gives him money to also give him a blow to the head. The reason, he argues,<em> is that he wants to expiate the sin of avarice</em>, that has caused him so much suffering.
"As I would a child" would generally refer to how they would treat something like a child--carefully. "As I would a lifeless doll" would refer to how they would treat something like a lifeless doll; perhaps with care, but not with the gentle touch they would a child.
