小学英语英语故事童话故事The Stone of the Wise Man聪明人的宝石

TheStoneoftheWiseMan聪明人的宝石

YouknowthestoryofHolgerDanske,sowewon，trepeatit,butwillaskyouifyou

rememberhow〃HolgerDanskeconqueredthegreatlandofIndia,eastwardattheend

oftheworld,tothetreecalled'theTreeoftheSun,'〃asChristenPedersensays.

DoyouknowChristenPedersen?Itmakesnodifferenceifyoudon，t.

HolgerDanskegavePresterJohnhispowerandruleoverIndia.Haveyouheardabout

PresterJohn?Yes?Well,itmakesnodifferenceifyouhaven't,becausehedoesn，t

comeintoourstory.YouaregoingtohearabouttheTreeoftheSun〃inIndia,

eastwardattheendoftheworld,/zaspeoplebelievedittobethen,fortheyhadn，t

studiedtheirgeographythewaywehave-butthatmakesnodifference,either!

TheTreeoftheSunwasamagnificenttree,suchaswehaveneverseenandmostlikely

neverwillsee.Itscrownstretchedoutformilesaround;itwasreallyanentire

wood,foreachofitssmallestbranchesformed,inturn,awholetree.Palms,beech

pines,planetrees,yes,andmanyotherkindsoftreesgrewhere,treesthatare

tobefoundallovertheworld;theysprangforth,assmallbranches,fromthegreat

branches,andthese,withtheirknotsandwindings,werelikehillsandvalleys,

carpetedwithsoft,velvetygreen,andcoveredwiththousandsofflowers.Eachbranch

waslikeagreatbloomingmeadoworthemostbeautifulgarden.TheblessedSunshone

downuponit,for,remember,itwastheTreeoftheSun.

Herethebirdsfromallovertheworldgatheredtogether,birdsfromtheprimeval

forestsofAmerica,therosegardensofDamascus,orthewildwoodsofAfrica,where

theelephantandthelionimaginethattheyalonereign.Polarbirdscamehere,and

thestorkandswallownaturallydid,too.Butthebirdswerenottheonlyliving

creatureshere;thestag,thesquirrel,theantelope,andhundredsofotherbeautiful

andlight-footedanimalswereathomeinthisplace.Thecrownofthetreewasa

spreading,fragrantgarden,andintheverycenterofit,wherethegreatbranches

roseupintoagreenhill,therestoodacastleofcrystal,withaviewtowardevery

countryintheworld.Eachtowerroseupintheformofalily,andonecouldascend

throughthestem,forinsidetherewerewindingstairs.Onecouldstepoutontothe

leaves-thesewerethebalconies;andupinthecupoftheflowerwasabeautiful,

brilliantroundhall,withnoroofaboveit,onlythebluesky,witheitherthesun

orthestars.

Downbelow,inthewidehallsofthecastle,therewasjustasmuchsplendor,though

ofadifferentsort.Herethewholeworldwasreflectedonthewalls.Onecouldsee

everythingthathappened,sotherewasnoneedtoreadnewspapers;therewereno

newspapershere,anyway.Everythingcouldbeseeninlivingpictures,ifonewanted

toorwasabletoseeitall;fortoomuchistoomuch,evenforthewisestman.

Andthewisestofallmenlivedhere.

Hisnameistoodifficultforyoutopronounce,anditmakesnodifference,anyway.

Hekneweverythingthatamanonearthcanknoworhopetoknow;heknewevery

inventionthathadbeenmadeorwasyettobemade;butheknewnothingmorethan

that,foreverythingintheworldhasitslimits.WiseoldKingSolomonwasonly

halfaswiseasthisman,andyethewasverywiseindeed,andgovernedtheforces

1

ofnatureandruledovermightyspirits;evenDeathitselfwasforcedtoreportevery

morningwithalistofthosewhoweretodieduringtheday.ButKingSolomonhimself

hadtodie,too,andthiswasthethoughtthatoftenoccupiedthemindofthelearned,

mightyrulerofthecastleontheTreeoftheSun.Howeverhighhemightriseabove

meninwisdom,healsomustdiesomeday.Heknewthatheandhischildren,too,must

fadeliketheleavesoftheforestandbecomedust.Hecouldseethehumanracefade

awaylikeleavesonthetreesandnewmencomeforthtotaketheirplaces.Butthe

leavesthatfellneverlivedagain;theybecamedustaboutotherplants.

WhathappenedtomanwhentheAngelofDeathcametohim?WhatcouldDeathbe?The

bodybecamedecayed.Andthesoul?Yes,whatwasthesoul?Whatbecameofit?Where

diditgo?〃Tothelifeeternal,z/thecomfortingvoiceofreligionsaid.Butwhat

wasthetransition?Wheredidonedwell,andhow?〃Inheavenabove,，zsaidthepious

people;〃itistherewego.〃“Above?”repeatedtheWiseMan,andgazedupatthe

moonandstars.〃Upthere?”

Fromtheearthlyglobehesawthat〃above"and〃below〃couldbeoneandthesame,

dependinguponwhereonestoodontherevolvingearth.Andifheascendedashigh

astheearth5sloftiestmountainsreartheirpeaks,thereintheairthatwebelow

callclearandtransparent一〃thepureheaven"-wouldbeablackdarkness,spread

overalllikeacloth,andthesunwouldhaveacopperyglowwithoutgivingforth

rays,andourearthwouldliewrappedinanorangemist.Hownarrowwerethelimits

ofthemortaleye,andhowlittlecouldbeseenbytheeyeofthesoul!Eventhe

wisestknewlittleofthatwhichisthemostimportantofalltous.

Inthemostsecretchamberofthatcastlelayearth'sgreatesttreasure-theBook

ofTruth.Pageafterpage,theWiseManhadreaditthrough.Everymanmayreadin

thisbook,butonlypartsofit;tomanyandeyethelettersseemtofade,sothat

thewordscannotevenbespelled;onsomepagesthewritingissopalethatthey

seemlikeblankleaves.Butthewiseramanbecomes,themorehecanread;andthe

wisestmenreadthemost.TheWiseManknewhowtounitethesunlightandthestarlight

withthelightofreasonandthehiddenpowersofhissoul,andunderthisdazzling

lightmanythingsstoodoutclearlyonthepagesbeforehim.Butinthechapterof

thebookentitled"LifeAfterDeath"therewasnotsomuchasonesingleletterto

see.Thatgrievedhim.Couldhenotsomewhereonearthobtainalightbywhich

everythingwrittenintheBookofTruthwouldbecomecleartohim?

LikewiseKingSolomon,heunderstoodthelanguageoftheanimalsandcouldinterpret

theirtalkandtheirsongs.Butthatmadehimnonethewiser.Hehadlearnedthe

powersofplantsandmetals,powersthatcouldbeusedforthecureofdiseasesor

fordelayingdeath,butnonethatcoulddestroydeath.Inallcreatedthingsthat

hecouldreachhesoughtthelightthatwouldshineuponthecertaintyofeternal

life,buthedidnotfindit.BlankleavesstillappearedintheBookofTruthbefore

him.ChristianitygavehimwordsofpromiseofaneternallifeintheBible,but

hewantedtoreaditinhisbook;andtherehecouldseenothingaboutit.

TheWiseManhadfivechildren,foursons,educatedaswellasthesonsofthewisest

offathersshouldbe,andadaughter,lovely,gentle,andclever,butblind.Yet

2

thisafflictionwasnodeprivationtoher,forherfatherandbrothersweremortal

eyestoher,andherownkeenperceptiongaveherclearmentalvision.

Thesonshadneverventuredfartherfromthecastlethantheextentofthebranches

ofthetree,norhadthesistereverleftthehome.Theywerehappychildreninthe

homeoftheirchildhood-thebeautiful,fragrantTreeoftheSun.Likeallchildren,

theywerehappytohavestoriestoldthem,andtheirfathertoldthemmanythings

thatotherchildrenwouldneverhaveunderstood,butthesechildrenwereasclever

asmostofouroldpeopleare.Heexplainedtothemthepicturesoflifethatthey

sawonthecastlewalls-thelaborsofmenandthemarchofeventsinallthelands

oftheearth.Oftenthesonswishedthattheycouldgointotheworldandtakepart

inthegreatdeedsofothermen,andthentheirfatherexplainedtothemthatit

washardandwearisomeoutintheworld,thattheworldwasnotastheysawitfrom

theirbeautifulhome.

Hetoldthemofthegood,thetrue,andthebeautiful,andexplainedthatthesethree

clungtogetherintheworld,andthatunderthepressuretheyenduredtheyhardened

intoapreciousstone,purerthanthewaterofadiamond-asplendidjewelofvalue

toGodHimself,whosebrightnessoutshoneallthings;thiswascalledthe〃Stone

oftheWiseMan.〃Hetoldthemthat,justasmancouldgainknowledgeoftheexistence

ofGodbyseekingit,sowasitwithinthepowerofmantogainproofthatsucha

jewelasthe"StoneoftheWiseMan"existed.Thisexplanationwouldhavebeenbeyond

theunderstandingofotherchildren,butthesechildrencouldgraspit,andintime

otherchildren,too,willlearntounderstanditsmeaning.

Theyaskedtheirfatheraboutthetrue,thebeautiful,andthegood,andhetold

themmanythings-howwhenGodmademanfromthedustoftheearth,HegavetoHis

workfivekisses,fierykisses,heartkisses,whichwenowcallthefivesenses.

Throughthese,thatwhichisthetrue,thebeautiful,andthegoodisseen,felt,

andunderstood;throughthem,itisvalued,protected,andaugmented.Fivesenses

havebeengiven,physicallyandmentally,inwardlyandoutwardly,tobodyandsoul.

Bydayandbynightthechildrenthoughtdeeplyaboutallthesethings.Thenthe

eldestofthebrothershadawonderfuldream;and,strangelyenough,thesecond

brotherhadthesamedream,andthethirddid,too,andthefourth-allofthem

dreamedexactlythesamething.Theydreamedthateachwentoutintotheworldand

foundthe"StoneoftheWiseMan,〃whichgleamedlikearadiantlightonhisforehead

when,inthemorningdawn,herodehisswifthorsebackoverthevelvetygreenmeadows

ofhometothecastleofhisfather.Thenthejewelthrewsuchadivinelightand

brillianceuponthepagesofthebookthateverythingwrittenthereonthelifebeyond

thegravewasilluminated.Butthesisterdreamednothingaboutventuringoutinto

theworld,forithadneverenteredhermind.Herworldwasherfather'scastle.

〃Ishallrideoutintothewideworld,“saidtheeldestbrother.〃Imustfindwhat

lifeislikethere,andmixwithpeople.Ishalldoonlywhatisgoodandtrue,and

withtheseIshallprotectthebeautiful.Manythingsshallchangeforthebetter

whenIamthere.z/

Yes,histhoughtswereboldandbig,asourthoughtsalwaysareathome,beforewe

havegoneoutintotheworldandhavemetwithwindandrain,thornsandthistles.

3

Nowinallofthesebrothersthefivesenseswerehighlydeveloped,bothinwardly

andoutwardly;butineachofthemonesensehadreachedakeennesssurpassingthe

otherfour.Inthecaseoftheeldest,thisoutstandingsensewasSight.Thiswas

tobeofspecialbenefittohim.Hehadeyesforalltimes,hesaid,andeyesfor

allnations,eyesthatcouldlookintotheverydepthsoftheearth,wheretreasures

liehidden,orintothedepthsofpeople，shearts,asthoughonlyaclearpaneof

glasswerebeforethem;inotherwords,hesawmorethanwecouldinthecheekthat

blushesorturnspale,intheeyethatcriesorlaughs.

Stagsandantelopesescortedhimtothewesternboundariesofhishome,andthere

thewildswansreceivedhimandledhimonintothenorthwest.Andnowhewasfar

outintotheworld,farfromthelandofhisfather,whichextendedeastwardtothe

endsoftheearth.

Howwidelyhiseyesopenedinamazement!Thereweremanythingstobeseenhere;

andthingsappearverydifferentwhenamanlookatthemwithhisowneyesinstead

ofmerelyinapicture,ashehaddoneinhisfather'shouse,howevergoodthepicture

maybe,andthoseinhisfather'shousewereunusuallygood.Atfirsthenearlylost

hiseyesinastonishmentatalltherubbish,allthecarnival-likedecorationsthat

weresupposedtorepresentthebeautiful;buthedidnotquitelose,them,andsoon

foundfulluseforthem.Hewishedtoworkthoroughlyandhonestlytounderstand

thebeautiful,thetrue,andthegood.Buthowweretheserepresentedintheworld?

Hesawthatoftenthepraisewhichbyrightbelongedtothebeautiful,wasgiven

totheugly;thatthegoodwasoftenoverlooked,andmediocritywasapplaudedwhen

itshouldhavebeenhissed.Peoplelookedatthedressandnotatthewearer,asked

foranameinsteadofavalue,andwereguidedmorebyreputationthanbyworth.

Itwasthesameeverywhere.

〃Imustattackthesethings,z/hethought,andhedidso.

ButwhilehewasseekingthetruththerecametheDevil,whoisthefatherofall

lies.Gladlywouldhehavepluckedouttheeyesofthisseer,butthatwouldhave

beentooblunt,fortheDevilworksinamorecunningway.Helethimcontinueto

seekandseethetrueandthegood;butwhiletheyoungmanwasdoingso,theDevil

blewamoteintohiseye,intobotheyes,onemoteafteranother;this,ofcourse,

wouldharmeventheclearestsight.Thenthefiendblewuponthemotesuntilthey

becamebeams,andtheeyesweredestroyed.TheretheSeerstoodlikeablindman

inthegreatworldandhadnofaithinit,forhehadlosthisgoodopinionofit

andofhimself.Andwhenamanlosesconfidenceintheworldandhimself,itisall

overwithhim.

〃A11over!/zsangthewildswans,flyingacrosstheseatowardtheeast.〃A11over!，z

repeatedtheswallows,alsoflyingeastwardtowardtheTreeoftheSun.Itwasnot

goodnewsthattheywerecarryingtotheyoungman'shome.

“TheSeermusthavedonebadly,〃saidthesecondbrother,〃buttheHearermayhave

betterluck.〃Forinthissonthesenseofhearingwasdevelopedtoaveryhigh

degree;sokeenwasitthathecouldheartheverygrassgrow.

4

Helovinglybadefarewellandrodeawayfromhome,fullofsoundabilitiesandgood

intentions.Theswallowsfollowedhim,andhefollowedtheswans,untilhewasfar

fromhishome,faroutinthewideworld.

Thenhediscoveredthatonemayhavetoomuchofagoodthings.Forhishearingwas

toofine.Notonlycouldhehearthegrassgrow,buthecouldheareveryman5sheart

beat,whetherinsorroworinjoy.Tohimthewholeworldwaslikethegreatworkshop

ofaclockmaker,withalltheclocksgoing〃Tick,tock,〃andallthetowerclocks

striking〃Ding,dong.〃Thenoisewasunbearable.Foralongtimehisearsheldout,

butatlastallthenoise,theshrieking,becametoomuchforoneman.Then"street

boys,〃ofsomesixtyyearsofage-foryearsalonedon'tmakemen-raisedatumult,

atwhichtheHearerwouldhavelaughed,exceptfortheslanderoustalkthatfollowed

andechoedthrougheveryhouseandstreet;itwasheardeveninthecountrylanes.

Falsehoodpusheditselfforwardandpretendedtobethemaster;bellsonthefools，

capsjangledandinsistedtheywerechurchbells,untilthenoisebecametoomuch

fortheHearerandhethrusthisfingersintohisears.Butstillhecouldhearfalse

singingandevilsounds,gossipandidlewords,scandalandslander,groaningand

moaning,onallsides-noneofitworthlisteningto.Heavenhelpus!Itwas

impossibletoendure;itwasalltoomad!Hethrusthisfingersdeeperanddeeper

intohisears,untilatlasthiseardrumsburst.Nowheheardnothingatall;he

couldnothearthetrue,thebeautiful,andthegood;hishearingwastohavebeen

thebridgebywhichhewouldhavecrossedtoit.Hebecamemoroseandsuspicious,

atlasttrustingnoone,notevenhimself,andthatwasmostunfortunate.Hewould

notbeabletodiscoverandbringhomethedivinejewel,andsohegaveup;heeven

gavehimselfup,andthatwastheworstofall.Thebirdsthatfleweastwardbrought

thetidingsofthisalsotothefather5scastleintheTreeoftheSun;noletters

arrivedthere,fortherewasnomailservice.

〃Nowr11try,〃saidthethirdbrother.〃Ihaveasharpnose.〃

Itwasn，taverygoodpracticeforhimtoboastlikethat,butthatwashisway,

andwemusttakehimashewas.Hehadahappydispositionandwasapoet,agreat

poet;hecouldsingmanythingsthathecouldnotspeak,andideascametohimfar

morequicklythantheydidtoothers.

〃Icansmellarat!zzhesaid.Anditwashishighlydevelopedsenseofsmelltowhich

heattributedhisgreatrangeofknowledgeabouttherealmofthebeautiful.

“Everyfragrantspotintherealmofthebeautifulhasitsdenizens,，zhesaid."Some

likethesmellofappleblossoms;somelikethesmellofastable.Onemanisat

homeintheatmosphereofthetavern,amongthesmokingtallowcandles,wherethe

smellofspiritsmingleswiththefumesofcheaptobacco.Anotherpreferstobenear

theheavyscentofjessamine,ortoscenthimselfwithstrongoilofcloves.Some

seekthefreshseabreezes,whileothersclimbthehighestmountaintolookdown

onthebustlinglittlelifebeneath.，z

Yes,thushespoke.Itseemedtohimasifhehadalreadybeenoutinthewideworld

andknownpeoplefromcloseassociationwiththem.Butthisconvictionarosefrom

withinhimself;itwasthepoetwithinhim,thegiftheavenhadbestowedonhimin

hiscradle.

5

HebadefarewelltohisancestralhomeintheTreeoftheSunandwentonfootthrough

thepleasantcountryside.Whenhearrivedattheboundariesofhishome,hemounted

anostrich,whichrunsfasterthanahorse,andwhenhelatermetthewildswans,

heswunghimselfontothestrongestofthem,forhelovedvariety.Awayheflewacross

theseatodistantlandsofgreatforests,deeplakes,toweringmountains,andproud

cities.Andwhereverheappeareditseemedasifsunlighttraveledwithhimacross

thecountryside,foreveryflowerandbushgaveforthanewfragrance,conscious

thatnearbywasafriendandprotectorwhounderstoodthemandknewtheirvalue.

Thenthecrippledrosebushstretchedoutitsbranches,openeditsleaves,andgave

bloomtothemostbeautifulroses;eventheblack,slimywoodsnailsawitsbeauty.

〃Iwillputmymarkontheflower,zzsaidthesnail.〃NowIhavespitonit,andthere

isnothingmoreIcandoforit.〃

“Thusthebeautifulalwaysfaresinthisworld!〃saidthePoet.

Thenhesangasongaboutitinhisownway,butnobodylistened.Sohegaveadrummer

twopenniesandpeacock，sfeather,andthenarrangedthesongforthedrum,andhad

itdrummedthroughoutthetown,inallthestreetsandlanes.Whenthepeopleheard

ittheysaidthattheyunderstoodit-itwasveryprofound!

AndsothePoetsangothersongsaboutthebeautiful,thegood,andthetrue,and

peoplelistenedtothemamongthesmokingtaverncandles,listenedinthefresh

meadows,intheforests,andonthehighseas.Itseemedasifthisbrotherwasgoing

tohavebetterluckthantheothertwo.

ButthatangeredtheDevil,andsohepromptlysettoworkwithalltheincensepowder

andsmoketobefound,theverystrongest,whichcanstifleanyone,andwhichhe

canprepareartfullyenoughtoevenconfuseanangel-andsurely,therefore,apoor

poet!TheDevilknowshowtotakeholdofamanlikethat!HesurroundedthePoet

socompletelywithincensethatthepoormanlosthishead,forgothismission,his

home,everything-evenhimself;hethenvanishedinsmoke.

Whenthelittlebirdsheardaboutthistheyweresad,andforthreedaystheydidn't

sing.Theblackwoodsnailbecameblackerstill,notfromgriefbutfromenvy.

“Theyshouldhaveburnedincenseforme,〃hesaid,，zforitwasIwhogavehimthe

ideaforthemostfamousofhissongs,thedrumsongaboutthewayoftheworld.

ItwasIwhospatattherose!Icanbringwitnessestoprovethat!zz

ButnonewsofthisreachedthePoet'shomeinIndia,forallthelittlebirdswere

mourningandsilentforthreedays;andwhentheirtimeofmourningwasover,their

griefhadbeensoprofoundthattheyhadforgottenforwhomtheywept.That，sthe

wayitgoes.

“Nowr11havetogointotheworld,andstayawayliketheothers,，zsaidthefourth

brother.

Hehadasgoodahumorasthethird,thoughhewasnopoet,whichwasafinereason

forhimtohaveagoodhumor.Thosetwohadfilledthecastlewithgaiety,andnow

thelastofthatgaietywasleaving.Menhavealwaysconsideredsightandhearing

thetwomostimportantsenses,thosethatitismostdesirabletostrengthenand

sharpen;theotherthreesensesaregenerallylookeduponassubordinate.Butthat

wasnotthebeliefofthisson,forhehadespeciallycultivatedhistasteinevery

6

waypossible,andtasteisverypowerfulindeed.Itgovernswhatgoesintothemouth

andintothemind;hencethisbrothertastedeverythingtherewasinpotsandpans,

inbottlesandbarrels,explainingthatthiswastheuncouthsideofhisfunction.

Tohimeverymanwasavesselwithsomethingcookingwithin,andeverycountrywas

anenormouskitchen,akitchenofthemind-thisheconsideredfineindeed,and

hewantedtogooutintotheworldandtasteofit.

，zPerhapsV11havebetterluckthanmybrothers.Ishallbeonmyway-buthowshall

Itravel?Areballoonsinventedyet?〃heaskedhisfather,

whoknewaboutallinventionsthathadbeenmadeorwouldbeinthefuture.Butmen

hadnotyetinventedballoons,orsteamships,orrailways."Thenr11gobyballoon,zz

hesaid.〃Myfatherknowshowthey，remadeandsteered,andthatIcanlearn.They

aren，tinventedyet,sopeoplewillthinkit'ssomespiritoftheair.WhenIhave

finishedwiththeballoonI'11burnit,andforthatyoumustgivemesomepieces

ofanotherinventiontocome-matches.z/

Whenhehadreceivedwhathewanted,heflewaway.Thebirdsflewmuchfartheralong

withhimthantheyhadwithhisbrothers.Theywerecurioustoknowhowtheflight

wouldcomeout,fortheythoughtitwassomenewkindofbird.Moreandmorecame

sweepingupuntiltheairwasblackwithbirds;theycameonlikethecloudoflocusts

overthelandofEgypt.Andsonowhe,thelastbrother,wasoutinthewideworld.

〃TheEastWindisagoodfriendandhelpertome,〃hesaid.

“YoumeantheEastWindandtheWestWind!zzsaidthewinds.〃Youcouldn，thaveflown

northwestifwebothhadn'thelpedyou.〃

Buthedidn'thearwhatthewindsaid,andthatmakesnodifference.Thebirdstired

offlyingalongwiththeballoon.Toomuchhadbeenmadeofthatthing,saidapair

ofthem.Ithadbecomeconceited!〃Itisn'tworthflyingwith;it'snothing!And

thentheywithdrew;theyallwithdrew,forindeedtoomuchhadbeenmadeofnothing.

Theballoondescendedoveroneofthegreatestcities,andtheaeronautlandedon

thehighestpoint,thechurchsteeple.Theballoonroseintotheairagain,which

itshouldn，thavedone;wedon'tknowwhereitwent,butthatdoesn，tmatter,for

itwasnotyetinvented.Theretheyoungmansatonthechurchsteeple,thebirds

nolongerhoveringaroundhim;hehadgrownastiredofthemastheyhadofhim.

Allthechimneysofthetownsmokedfragrantly.

，zThosearealtarserectedinyourhonor,，zsaidtheWind,whichthoughtitoughtto

saysomethingpleasant.

Hesatupthereboldlyandgazeddownatthepeopleinthestreets.Onepersonwas

prancingalong,proudofhispurse;anotherwasproudofthekeythathungathis

girdle,thoughhehadnothingforittounlock;onewasproudofhismoth-eatencoat,

anotherofhisworm-eatenbody.

“Vanity!”hesaid.〃Imustgodown,dipmyfingersintothatpot,andtasteit.But

r11sitherealittlelonger,forthewindisblowingverypleasantlyagainstmy

back;r11takealittlerest.'Itisgoodtosleeplonginthemornings,whenone

hasmuchtodo,，thelazymansays.Lazinessistherootofallevil,butthereis

noevilinourfamily.V11stayhereaslongasthewindblows,foritfeelsgood.，z

7

Sohesatthere;butsincehewassittingontheweathercockofthesteeple,which

turnedroundandroundwithhim,hehadthefalseideathatthesamewindwasstill

blowing,soheremainedseatedthere;hemightaswellstayalongwhileandhave

agoodtaste.

BackinIndia,inthecastleoftheTreeoftheSun,ithadbecomeemptyandquiet

afterthebrothers,oneafteranother,hadgoneaway.

“Thingsaregoingbadlywiththem,〃saidthefather."Neverwilltheybringhome

thegleamingjewel;itisnotforme.Theyarealldeadandgone!，zAndthenhebent

overtheBookofTruthandgazedatthepagethatshouldhavetoldhimoflifeafter

death,buttherewasnothingforhimtoseeorlearnfromit.

Nowhisblinddaughterwashissolejoyandconsolation;