how to tell stories to children-第31节

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〃Tell　me　that　one！〃　pleaded　the　hermit。

〃Once；〃　said　the　man；　〃our　band　broke　into　a　convent　garden　and　stole　away　one　of　the　nuns；　to　sell　as　a　slave　or　to　keep　for　a　ransom。　　We　dragged　her　with　us　over　the　rough；　long　way　to　our　mountain　camp；　and　set　a　guard　over　her　for　the　night。　　The　poor　thing　prayed　to　us　so　piteously　to　let　her　go！　　And　as　she　begged；　she　looked　from　one　hard　face　to　another　with　trusting；　imploring　eyes；　as　if　she　could　not　believe　men　could　be　really　bad。　　Father；　when　her　eyes　met　mine　something　pierced　my　heart！　　Pity　and　shame　leaped　up；　for　the　first　time；　within　me。　　But　I　made　my　face　as　hard　and　cruel　as　the　rest；　and　she　turned　away；　hopeless。

〃When　all　was　dark　and　still；　I　stole　like　a　cat　to　where　she　lay　bound。　　I　put　my　hand　on　her　wrist　and　whispered；　‘Trust　me；　and　I　will　take　you　safely　home。'　I　cut　her　bonds　with　my　knife；　and　she　looked　at　me　to　show　that　she　trusted。　Father；　by　terrible　ways　that　I　knew；　hidden　from　the　others；　I　took　her　safe　to　the　convent　gate。　　She　knocked；　they　opened；　and　she　slipped　inside。　　And；　as　she　left　me；　she　turned　and　said；　‘God　will　remember。'

〃That　was　all。　　I　could　not　go　back　to　the　old　bad　life；　and　I　had　never　learned　an　honest　way　to　earn　my　bread。　　So　I　became　a　clown；　and　must　be　a　clown　until　I　die。〃

〃No！　no！　my　son；〃　cried　the　hermit；　and　now　his　tears　were　tears　of　joy。　　〃God　has　remembered；　your　soul　is　in　his　sight　even　as　mine；　who　have　prayed　and　preached　for　forty　years。　　Your　treasure　waits　for　you　on　the　heavenly　shore　just　as　mine　does。〃

〃As　YOURS？　　Father；　you　mock　me！〃　said　the　clown。

But　when　the　hermit　told　him　the　story　of　his　prayer　and　the　angel's　answer；　the　poor　clown　was　transfigured　with　joy；　for　he　knew　that　his　sins　were　forgiven。　And　when　the　hermit　went　home　to　his　mountain；　the　clown　went　with　him。　　He；　too；　became　a　hermit；　and　spent　his　time　in　praise　and　prayer。

Together　they　lived；　and　worked；　and　helped　the　poor。　　And　when；　after　two　years；　the　man　who　had　been　a　clown　died；　the　hermit　felt　that　he　had　lost　a　brother　holier　than　himself。

For　ten　years　more　the　hermit　lived　in　his　mountain　hut；　thinking　always　of　God；　fasting　and　praying；　and　doing　no　least　thing　that　was　wrong。　　Then；　one　day；　the　wish　once　more　came；　to　know　how　his　work　was　growing；　and　once　more　he　prayed　that　he　might　see　a　being

　　　〃Whose　soul　in　the　heavenly　grace　had　grown　　　　To　the　selfsame　measure　as　his　own；　　　　Whose　treasure　on　the　celestial　shore　　　　Could　neither　be　less　than　his　nor　more。〃


Once　more　his　prayer　was　answered。　The　angel　came　to　him；　and　told　him　to　go　to　a　certain　village　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain；　and　to　a　small　farm　in　it；　where　two　women　lived。　　In　them　he　should　find　two　souls　like　his　own；　in　God's　sight。

When　the　hermit　came　to　the　door　of　the　little　farm；　the　two　women　who　lived　there　were　overjoyed　to　see　him；　for　every　one　loved　and　honored　his　name。　　They　put　a　chair　for　him　on　the　cool　porch；　and　brought　food　and　drink。　　But　the　hermit　was　too　eager　to　wait。　　He　longed　greatly　to　know　what　the　souls　of　the　two　women　were　like；　and　from　their　looks　he　could　see　only　that　they　were　gentle　and　honest。　One　was　old；　and　the　other　of　middle　age。

Presently　he　asked　them　about　their　lives。　　They　told　him　the　little　there　was　to　tell：　they　had　worked　hard　always；　in　the　fields　with　their　husbands；　or　in　the　house；　they　had　many　children；　they　had　seen　hard　times；sickness；　sorrow；　but　they　had　never　despaired。

〃But　what　of　your　good　deeds；〃　the　hermit　asked；〃what　have　you　done　for　God？〃

〃Very　little；〃　they　said；　sadly；　for　they　were　too　poor　to　give　much。　　To　be　sure；　twice　every　year；　when　they　killed　a　sheep　for　food；　they　gave　half　to　their　poorer　neighbors。

〃That　is　very　good；　very　faithful；〃　the　hermit　said。　　〃And　is　there　any　other　good　deed　you　have　done？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　the　older　woman；　〃unless；　unlessit　might　be　called　a　good　deed〃　　She　looked　at　the　younger　woman；　who　smiled　back　at　her。

〃What？〃　said　the　hermit。

Still　the　woman　hesitated；　but　at　last　she　said；　timidly；　〃It　is　not　much　to　tell；　father；　only　this；　that　it　is　twenty　years　since　my　sister…in…law　and　I　came　to　live　together　in　the　house；　we　have　brought　up　our　families　here；　and　in　all　the　twenty　years　there　has　never　been　a　cross　word　between　us；　or　a　look　that　was　less　than　kind。〃

The　hermit　bent　his　head　before　the　two　women；　and　gave　thanks　in　his　heart。　〃If　my　soul　is　as　these；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　blessed　indeed。〃

And　suddenly　a　great　light　came　into　the　hermit's　mind；　and　he　saw　how　many　ways　there　are　of　serving　God。　　Some　serve　him　in　churches　and　in　hermit's　cells；　by　praise　and　prayer；　some　poor　souls　who　have　been　very　wicked　turn　from　their　wickedness　with　sorrow；　and　serve　him　with　repentance；　some　live　faithfully　and　gently　in　humble　homes；　working；　bringing　up　children；　keeping　kind　and　cheerful；　some　bear　pain　patiently；　for　his　sake。　Endless；　endless　ways　there　are；　that　only　the　Heavenly　Father　sees。

And　so；　as　the　hermit　climbed　the　mountain　again；　he　thought；

　〃As　he　saw　the　star…like　glow　　Of　light；　in　the　cottage　windows　far；　　How　many　God's　hidden　servants　are！〃




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