The Silver Crown.
by Laura E. Richards.
"And shall I be a king?" asked the child, "and shall I wear a crown?"
"You shall surely wear a crown," said the Angel, "and a kingdom is waiting for you."
"Oh, joy!" said the child. "But tell me, how will it come about? for now I am only a little child, and the crown would hardly stay on my curls."
"Nay! that I may not tell," said the Angel. "Only ride and run your best, for the way is long to your kingdom, and the time short."
So the child rode and ran his best, crossing hills and valleys, broad streams and foaming torrents. Here and there he saw people at work or at play, and on these he looked eagerly.
"Perhaps, when they see me," he said, "they will run to meet me, and will crown me with a golden crown, and lead me to their palace and throne me there as king!"
But the folk were all busy with their tasks or their sport, and none heeded him, or left their business for him; and still he must fare forward alone, for the Way called him.
Also, he came upon many travellers like himself, some coming toward him, others passing him by. On these, too, he looked earnestly, and would stop now one, now another, and question him.
"Do you know," he asked, "of any kingdom in these parts where the crown is ready and the folk wait for a king?"
Then one would laugh, and another weep, and another jeer, but all alike shook their heads.
"I am seeking crown and kingdom for myself," cried one; "is it likely that I can be finding one for you, too? Each one for himself, and the Way for all!"
Another said: "You seek in vain. There are no crowns, only fools' caps with asses' ears and bells that jingle in them."
But others, and these they who had been longest on the way, only looked on him, some sadly, some kindly, and made no answer; and still he fared onward, for the Way called him.
Now and then he stopped to help some poor soul who had fallen into trouble, and when he did that the way lightened before him, and he felt the heart light within him; but at other times the hurry was strong on him, so that he would turn away his face, and shut his ears to the cries that rang in them; and when he did that, the way darkened, and oftentimes he stumbled himself, and fell into pits and quagmires, and must cry for help, sometimes on those to whom he had refused it.
By and by he forgot about the crown and the kingdom; or if he thought of them, it was but as a far-off dream of dim gold, such as one sees at morning when the sun breaks through the mist. But still he knew that the way was long and the time short, and still he rode and ran his best.
At the last he was very weary, and his feet could carry him no further, when, looking up, he saw that the way came to an end before him, and there was a gate, and one in white sitting by it, who beckoned to him.
Trembling, yet glad, the child drew near, and knew the Angel who had spoken to him at the beginning.
"Welcome!" said the Angel, "you come in good time. And what of the Way?"
"I came as fast as I could," said the child, "but many things hindered me, and now I am weary, and can go no further."
"But what did you find on the way?" asked the Angel.
"Oh! I found joy and sorrow," said the child, "good measure of both; but never a crown, such as you promised me, and never a kingdom."
"Oh, dear, foolish child," said the Angel. "You are wearing your crown.
It is of purest silver, and shines like white frost; and as for your kingdom, the name of it is Rest, and here the entrance to it."
THE GRUMPY SAINT
Once upon a time there was a Grumpy Saint, who thought that all the world were sinners, himself included. He lived in a little cabin by the roadside, and his life was a burden to him on account of the passers-by.
They gave him no peace. Now it was a poor man asking for food.
"Go along with you!" said the Grumpy Saint. "It is an abomination to feed sturdy beggars like you."
And he gave the man his dinner, and went hungry.
Again, it was an old woman, creeping along the road, bent double under a heavy burden.
"Shame on you!" said the Grumpy Saint. "Why are you not at home, tending your fire, instead of gadding along the road in this fashion?"
And he took the burden, and carried it all the way to the woman's house, and came back grumbling.
Still again it was a child, who had lost its way and came crying to his door.
"Please take me home!" said the child.
"You should not have come out!" said the Saint. "Where is your home?"
"Miles away!" said the child. "And I am tired; please carry me!"
"Stuff and nonsense!" said the Saint. "Don't talk to me!"
And he wrapped the child in his own coat (for it was winter), and carried him miles through the snow to his home; and then trudged back again, but without the coat, for the folk were poor.
And so it went on.
One day the Grumpy Saint died, and went to Heaven, a place in which he had never believed. As he entered that country, the first person he met was an Angel, with a bright gold aureole round her head, and in her hand a staff of lilies.
"Welcome!" said the Angel. "Welcome, dear and great saint! I am sent to greet you, and lead you to the feast that is making in your honor."
"Some mistake!" said the Grumpy Saint. "I don't know what you are talking about, and I don't like play-acting. What place is this?"
"This is Heaven!" said the Angel.
"Nonsense!" said the Saint. "I don't believe in Heaven."
"Yes, but you _are_ in it," said the Angel, "which is of more consequence."
"And who may you be?" asked the Saint. "I seem to know your face."
"Yes!" said the Angel. "I am the old woman you helped with the burden; don't you remember? the rest are waiting inside, all the people whom you loved and helped. Come with me!"