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VI.
_THE STORY CONTINUED._
"THEY journeyed on till they came to a grotto built upon the side ofthe path, and Experience said, 'It is now the seventh hour, and we mayturn in here for food and drink.'
"So they went into the grotto, where were many other pilgrims, andwere fed with the bread of life, and drank of living waters, so thatthey were strengthened for the rest of the journey. And this foodthey received from the hands of two soldiers,--an old man and a youngone,--both of whom were in shining armor, with a white cross upon theshoulder, and upon the breast of each hung a string of jewels, sobright that the eye could scarcely rest upon them.
"'Did they find those jewels by the way?' Benito asked of his friend.
"'Yes,' answered Experience. 'The jewels are souls that have been savedby the food which our Father taught these soldiers to serve.'
"'And see,' said the child, 'there is another pilgrim with a shiningstar about his neck.'
"'He started upon his journey with much gold,' said Experience. 'Andhe made good use of it; building such grottos as this, where tiredpilgrims might rest and be fed, and others where the sick and lamemight be healed. And he did this, not for his own glory, but for loveof Him whose children he rejoiced to help. So the gold has come back tohim in the form of this star, which he may offer to his Master.'
"And as the little one looked around among the pilgrims, he saw thatmost of them had some gift which they were taking to their Father; andhis own heart grew sad again, for he had as yet found none, though hehad looked carefully by the way.
"When the seventh hour had gone by, the pilgrims all went forth ontheir journey again. Some kept near Benito and Experience, otherspassed far ahead, and some few were left behind. But the two soldierswere always near; for as Experience walked slowly, so that he mighthelp the little one whose hand lay in his, so the younger soldier alsoheld back, that he might lend his arm to aid the feeble steps of theolder.
"They now came to a black bog where the guide-post pointed to a narrowbridge which led them safely over it. But from the midst of the bogcame terrible cries. 'Come and help us, for we have lost our way; andif we are not set right, we shall never reach our home.'
"Then the two soldiers said they must go and help the poor lost ones,and Experience said he would go with them.
"'For the path is pretty plain for some distance now,' he said toBenito, 'and I think thou couldst walk by thyself for a while. Onlyfrom time to time look at the guide-posts, and be sure to keep fasthold upon the silver thread.' Then he left him to go with the soldiers.
"So the boy went on by himself, watching carefully for the jewel hehoped to find. And as he looked, a poor lame bird hopped upon hispath. The broad road was very near to the narrow one in this spot, andwalking upon it were many children and older people. These children hadlong been calling to Benito, telling him to come where the ground wassoft and easy to walk upon, and where he might play all the day longif he chose. But Benito would not listen, for Experience had told himto close his ears; and besides he had the command of his Elder Brotherthat he should set his feet on the narrow path.
"The bird was a poor, half-starved looking thing, with a brokenwing; for these cruel children had caught it, and after teasing andtormenting it for a long while, had stoned it. It had at last escapedthem, and fluttering across the stream which divided the roads, fell atBenito's feet.
"The boy raised it gently, bound up the broken wing, and gathering someof the grass which grew by the wayside, made for the bird a soft nest.Then taking from his bosom a piece of bread, given to him by the oldsoldier lest he should be hungry, he fed it with some crumbs, broughtit water from the stream, and left it there in comfort and safety.
"On he went, wishing for his friends, and still looking for the jewel.Suddenly he saw before him a beautiful butterfly, with wings ofcrimsom, blue, and gold. It flew gayly about him, now lighting on hisshoulder, now circling round his head; but never coming where he mightlay his hand upon it.
"'What a lovely thing!' he said to himself. 'If I may but catch it, Iwill take it to my Father.'
"The butterfly lighted upon a flower, and the child sprang after it.Away it flew to another, and he followed, still to miss it. On theywent, from flower to flower, until it reached the stream, and flyingacross, lit upon a showy tulip, just upon the farther side. Benitohesitated and drew back, for the insect was now upon the forbiddenroad, and he feared to disobey. But there was the butterfly flutteringits lovely wings in the sunlight, the stream looked narrow here, hecould reach the prize, and be back in an instant. He should be so gladto show it to his friends when they joined him again. As he thoughtthus, he loosened a little his grasp upon the silver thread, andinstantly small prickles started up upon it, reminding him of his duty;but he looked again at the butterfly, and then, forgetting all else,let go his hold altogether, sprang across the stream, and once morereached forth his hand. Again the butterfly fluttered off a littlefarther, this time burying itself in the very heart of a lovely flower.
"'Ah, I have thee now,' said Benito, and, springing forward, his handclosed upon the blossom. But he instantly drew it back, crying aloudwith pain, for sharp nettles ran themselves into his tender palm, andthe butterfly suddenly changed into an ugly creeping thing. He heardaround him mocking laughter and loud, angry cries, and, terrified, heturned to go back. But he found himself in a bog where his feet sankdeeper and deeper, and his white dress became soiled and spotted. Whenhe looked towards the stream, its waters had become black and muddy,and a fog hung over it so that he could not see the narrow path. Hedrew his glass from his bosom, but alas it was so clouded that he couldnot see through it, and then he cried aloud in his pain and grief.Suddenly there came a voice from beyond the mist,--
"'Step boldly into the stream, my child, these are the healing watersof Repentance and Confession, and thou shalt pass safely through themto the true way once more.'
"Benito hesitated no longer, but plunged bravely into the muddy stream.And behold the mist lifted at once, the waters became clear, and hesaw upon the opposite bank the older soldier, who held out his hand tohim. The child grasped it, and in another moment, he stood safe, butweak and trembling beside his friend; and as he looked down in fearand distress, lest his dress were not fit for such company, he saw itwas white and pure again, cleansed by the waters through which he hadpassed.
"Then came Experience and bound up the little bleeding hands, andreplacing one upon the silver thread, took the other in his own.
"'I wished to carry the beautiful insect to my Father, that he mightknow I thought of him on the way,' sobbed the child.
"'That butterfly is called Temptation, beloved,' said the old soldier,'and could not fail to lead thee astray if thou didst pursue her. Shehas many ways of deceiving those whom she would lead into sin; and,seeing the strong wish of thy young heart to gain some gift which thoumightest carry to thy Father, she took that very means to draw theeaside from the path of duty.'
"The little one sighed, for his heart was sad, not as much for thepain he had suffered as for his bitter disappointment. After a little,he thought of his glass, and drawing it forth, found it bright andundimmed as it had been when he started. Then he grew happy again, andwas going on his way singing, when he saw a boy, smaller than himself,sitting by the wayside, weeping.
"Benito ran up to him. 'What aileth thee?' he asked.
"'Ah!' said the boy, 'my sister and I were going home, hand in hand,and we were so happy, for we loved one another dearly; but a shiningangel came and carried her from my sight, and now I am alone.'
"Then Benito drew the other's head upon his breast, and kissed him andwept with him, and spoke tender words to him, so that the child wascomforted. Then they went on together, but they had gone but a fewsteps when the shining angel came again, and taking Benito's new friendin his arms, carried him away also. He smiled sweetly on Benito as hepassed out of sight, and our young pilgrim felt a great joy in hisheart to thin
k that he had given comfort to the little stranger.
"A short distance farther on, the travellers overtook an old woman,bending beneath the weight of a heavy burden which she carried. Sheseemed very feeble, and Benito was grieved for her as he saw how shetottered and how hard it was for her to bear up beneath her load. Shewas faint and hungry too, and at every step it appeared as if she mustsink down.
"'Can I not help thee?' asked Benito.
"'Dear child!' said the old dame. 'How can those tiny hands help tobear a burden such as mine?'
"'I can try,' said Benito. 'Lay a part of it upon my shoulders. I willtake all I can to lighten thine. And see, take this; it will strengthenthee for the rest of the journey;' and he handed her the piece of breadwhich the soldier had given for his own needs.
"The dame took it and eat, and strength came to her as the boy hadsaid; and as he tried to bear upon his shoulders a part of her load,she, too, shed tears which fell upon his bosom as she leaned over him.But they were tears of gratitude and blessing, and did her good; sothat after this she went on her way with more comfort.
"And now the day was drawing to its close, the sun was setting, andthe end of their journey was near; for the pilgrims could plainly seethe river which lay between them and the mountains where their Fatherdwelt. But just on the nearer side of the river rose a high hill, andon it was a castle, where lived a cruel robber named Doubt, who oftencame down and dragged many pilgrims up to his castle just when theywere in sight of their home. When the soldiers saw this, they saidthere was one more fight to make before they crossed the river, andagain Experience went with them, leaving the child at the foot of thehill, and telling him that if he were frightened, or if the robbercame to carry him away, he had only to gaze through his glass at theopposite side of the river and all fear and danger would pass away.
"So the three went up the hill, and the child sat down to await theirreturn. As he sat there, he looked at the river and was afraid, forhe thought, 'How can such a little one as I pass through those deepwaters? The waves will be too strong for me, and will carry me away.'
"Then he remembered what Experience had told him, and looking throughhis glass, he saw that the waves were so shallow that they wouldscarcely wet his feet; and on the other side rose his Father's house,so beautiful, so glorious, that he cried aloud with joy and withlonging to pass the river and be there.
"But now he found he was not to sit still, for as the fight went onabove, and the soldiers and Experience gained the victory, one afteranother of the prisoners came down the hill, wounded and bleeding, forthey had risen to help those who came to set them free, and had beenterribly hurt in the battle.
"Benito rose and did what he could for them, bringing water to theirthirsty, fevered lips, staying the blood as well as he could, andgathering fresh grass and moss for pillows for their weary heads. Andwhile he was so busy, he felt a touch upon his shoulder, and lookingup, he saw the shining angel who had carried away the little boy withwhom he had wept.
"'Come,' said the angel, 'I am thy Father's messenger, sent to carrythee over the river.'
"The little one stretched out his arms with a cry of joy; but, even ashe did so, the old thought came to him, and he said, sadly, 'Ah, I havefound no jewel to offer to my Father!'
"The angel made no answer, but lifted him up, softly kissing hisforehead, and Benito sank gently into his arms. The angel carried himswiftly over the river, and on the other side stood his Elder Brother,who received him from the messenger, and laid him in his bosom; and hesaid to Benito, 'My lamb, put thy hand into thy bosom and see what thoufindest there.'
"The little one obeyed, and drew forth a string of pure white pearls,so fair, so lovely that they seemed more beautiful than any of theshining jewels which his fellow-pilgrims had worn.
"'That is thy gift unto thy Father,' said his Brother. 'These are thetears which the young child and the old dame shed upon thy bosom, thedrops of water which thou didst bring to the fainting prisoners, withwhich thou didst cheer the drooping bird. They have changed into thesefair pearls, and returned unto thine own bosom, because in doing itunto them, thou didst it unto me. See, there is thy welcome into thehome of the blessed.'
"Then looking up, Benito saw written over the door of his Father'shouse, 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.'
"And his Brother carried him into his Father's presence, where he casthis pearls at his feet, and was received into his love and care forevermore."
The colonel paused and looked at the children, fearing that he mighthave made his story too long. But it did not seem so, for they all wereso interested that they had quite forgotten everything else. Bessie layback with her head on his arm, and her eyes fixed on his face as if shefeared to lose a word; while even Maggie's restless hands were quitestill, lying clasped on the arm of the sofa as she stood motionlessbeside him. Gracie and Lily had drawn up their chairs and sat in frontof him, listening as eagerly as the others; and now Lily drew a longbreath, and said, "Is that all?"
"All!" said the colonel. "Yes. Is it not enough? I feared you would bequite tired of me and my story."
"Oh, no!" said Lily. "I wish you would tell us stories all day. Ishould _never_ be tired."
"I should then," said Colonel Rush, smiling. "And it is nearly time foryou to go home, now."
"Colonel Rush," said Gracie, "isn't your story what is called anallegory?"
"Yes," he answered. "Did you understand it, Bessie?"
"Most all of it," answered Bessie. "You meant that even little childrencan do something for Jesus if they are kind and good, and he wont careif it is only a little thing, if they do it 'cause they love him."
"You are right, my darling."
"And when the boy went in the wrong road after the butterfly, youmeant that we must not do wrong even when we thought it was for a goodpurpose," said Maggie. "Mamma told me that the other day."
"And the Elder Brother means Jesus," said Lily.
"I am glad you all understand it so well," said the colonel, "and stillmore glad that you all like it. It was Maggie's little hymn which mademe think of it. So you may thank her, too, for any pleasure it hasgiven you."
"And who is Experience?" asked Maggie.
"Experience may be older people who are generally wiser in some thingsthan the little ones, and can help them along; but who may yet learnmuch from a child."
"Children cannot teach grown people; can they?" said Lily.
"I think they can," said Colonel Rush, laying his hand lovingly onBessie's head. "The best lesson I ever learned in my life was taught meby a little child."
"Who?" asked Maggie.
"And what was the lesson?" said Gracie.
"You must not ask," he answered. "Here is your papa, Maggie; and Tomfor you, Lily."
The children said good-by to their kind friends, and went away,promising gladly to come again the next Sunday.
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