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!〃
End