The Forest of Poverty.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 19, 20 December 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Forest of Poverty.

A young man found himself one winter evening m the edge of a forest whose aspect alone was sufficient to inspire dismay. Tall trees with yellow bark and branches stripped of their leaves, masses of tangled root*, shoots and thorns, narrow, crooked paths bristling with stoneg, forking and joining again m an inextricable net-work, brambles, this was all that was to be mot. Tho young man walked rapidly, his brow was clouded, and he \?aa so absorbed that he did not perceive how the farther he advanced the denser grew tha trees and shrubbery and fewer the paths. He went on and on, but he soon despaired of finding any way out of the labyrinth. Ho fell to tha ground and abandoned hi 3 efforts. Ho remained ft long while on this spot for the cold had chilled his weakened members ; the fatigue of a long tramp had exhausted bis strength, and hunger tortured him. Suddenly, grief made him utter a cry ■which echo returned from afar. He raised his head: three pen were standing before him, he had neither seen nor heard them come. He trembled, the eyes of the three men were .earnestly fixed upon him. Oar .vas clad m a long robe of cloth of gold, drawn to his form by a- girdle whoso clasp of diamonds sparkled with phosphorescent light, a aword hung at his side The second wore a black robe and a red girdle. The third had a tunic of blue linen and a leather belt, he held m. his hand an axe on which he leaned. 11 What are you doing there ?" the three companions asked m chorus. "I am dying," answered tb.B young man ; " have pity on me I" "What do you want?" they asked. : "To get out of thia accursed forest as I quickly as possible." ! " Choose, then, the one of ns three who '■ shall accompany you, for only one guide ia ■ needed, and it is for you to decide." ' The young man looked at each of the three men who silently awaited the result of the examination. Ho observed the one who wore tho cloth of gold robe, for tho clasp threw out fires which illumined the surrounding space. " I choose you," he said to him. Then a strange smile passed over the cold lips of the unknown and he offered his hand to the young man, while his two companions disappeared like a vision. Mote with terror the young man took his guide's hand and they set forth. Oh i that was a rapid course, the trees flying behind them, anr l the sound of their footsteps resounding v?xthout interruption, nevertheless at the end of an hour they were still ia the forest. "Oh ! how tired lam 1 " murmured the young man, pausing m the middle of a crossroad formed by the junction of many paths. " The way ia long and our limbs are too feeble to take us to the end, but presently a man on horseback will go by here. Take this sword, as soon as he is near you, plnngo it m his heart, and take possession of his horse, which we will mount." " Horror 1 who are you that give me such counsel?" " I am Grime ! " answered the unknown. "Be off 1 Off with you 1" cried the young man, falling with his face to the ground. An infernal laugh was heard, and the young man was left alone. Hearo3e: the two companions were before. him. • — " What are you doing there ? " they demanded. " I am dying," responded tha young man ; " have pity on rael" " What do you want ? " they asked. "To get out of thia accursed forest as quickly as possible." " Choose, then, the one of us two who shall accompany you, for only one guide ia needed, : and iij i 3 for you to decide." And the young man looked at the two men and observed the one wherwaa clothed m a black robe with a red girdle. " I choose yon," he said. Then, without saying a word, tho unknown smiled and offered his hand to the young man, while his companion disappeared like a vision. Mute with terror the young man took his guide's hand and they set forth. They walked for an hour and arrived at tho brinlc of a gulf from which arose sobs and cries. "Oh! how tired I ami" murmured the young man, pausing. " The way is long yet and our limba are too teeble to take us to the end. Therefore I have brought you here to offer you the only meana of escaping from this foreet, at the bottom of the gulf is Death who delivers from all trouble." " Horror ! who are you that give me such '■ counsel ? " ! "I am Despair ! " answered the unknown, i "Be off I Off with you 1 " cried the young ' man, falling with his face to the ground. A burst of infernal laughter was heard, and the young man was left alone. He aroae : the third companion was before him. Remembering the names of the two others, he tried to flee, but the unknown stopped him. " Come with me, the way is long yet, but God comes to aid those who suffer." The young man looked at him, and, m his turn, he offered him hia hand. But the unknown contented himself with marching step by step before him ; then, by the aid of his axe, he opened a new road m hewing down the trees which impeded thoir progress ; then he said to the young man : " Take one of those trees on your shoulders." The young man obeyed; although his fatigue was great he scarcely felt the weight of the burden he carried. Always striking right and left with his axe, the unknown, followed by the young man, reached tho verge of the forest ; a vast plain spread before them, and m the middle of it \ras a castle. Then : the unknown said to the young man : " The forest you have traversed is the forest of Poverty. Eemember it, and now, lay down your burden." The young man torew the tree to the ground ; but m falling, it changed to a roll ; of gold pieces." "Who are you that have given me such good counsel? " the young man asked, m the utmost astonishment. " I am Labor I " replied hia companion. — Translated from the French by E. FJ Dawson.

cries

i:iy :< Good nioviiiii"" or "(Snol woMiiit,' 1 ' to every i-isitor, and r>!;l>- q'li-.lv a'-d not p.-rtly !•> :iH rjU^tions. If yi!-l jr.-;! r.HT-1 to Ifiivd your rl<ii- ■ i.-in with a i-.ur.-io i-att!) l:-:-r (.•.•iivfully. an-l l::'y.the children with y.-.i ?.:■ nv.rh as pi'?si!il;.'. C!>.il-ill-mi soiiietinic-H l'M.ni from a ;r,irse a voc.xl^ibny ihah is f-rton stiirtlir.R. Nevm- h.t yi:iir l»'>ys sic dcr.vn m y.,-ur prcsem^ with c:»p or hat en, b:;t t.ciiuh thr-!)i to iTtiu've it a« sn.iii as th; i y t'<\i-v i!io \vxa=i\ Thoan Kcova lik« like littlo triilew, ?-A, " f)-iflc3 light as air, make up tlio sum of human happincsn."