TREASURE WORTH HAVING.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, 29 October 1898, Page 7

TREASURE WORTH HAVING.

a Harry, not right yet ; try again," said grandmother, as she handed back the book. " It's no use, 11 replied the little boy, with tears in his eyes. " I study ever so jmuch harder than George. He learns his lesson in no time, while I am often sent back to study mine over." " Try again, dear,"" said his mother, -who sat near ; " and when the lesson is learned I have a story for you." That promise cleared the little boy's brow. The lesson was soon mastered, *nd he nestled down at his mother's feet while she began :—: — " Once upon a time two young men rwere doomed to die. What their crime was Ido not know, -or if they had really done a crime worthy of death ; but the king had said they must die. . They loved life, they feared death' ; and prayed, 'Grant 1 us but three days, and we will bring such ' rich" gifts to our lord, that he will pardon ,and grant us our lives.'' And so they started forth together. "Prom out a buslrflew* a" bird. 1 "Its plumage was of gold, its song th£ sweetest melody. Flinging "away hat- and cloak, Pedro followed it through, bush and brier, tip hill and down ; but the bird wheeled

in its flight and alighted on his brother's head. 'Itis a gift fit for a king !' cried Percy, as lie hid it in his bosom. " High on the rocks grew a flower pure as the snow, fining the air with perfume. 'No such flower ever grew in mortal garden,' cried Pedro ; and over the sharp rocks he climbed and gathered it. Alas 1 it fell to pieces in his grasp, and with only the stem in his bleeding hands he joined his brother ; and in Percy's hand was the flower's twin-blossom, fair and fresh, though not so frail. 'While you climbed the rocks I found this by the roadside. It is a gift fit for a king.' "Within the wall of a garden grew apples of gold. But a dragon held the keys, and with him must Pedro fight if he would possess the fruit. But while, exhausted and bleeding, he paused for breath, fairy hands flung the golden fruit into his brother's hands, and his fight was all in vain. "The three days were over, and the brothers stood befoTe the king. With eager haste Tercy brought "forth his teeasxires— rare bird, sweet flower, and priceless fruit ; while Pedro stood with downcast eyes and bleeding hands. The king took the gifts, but his glance was not upon t"hem, but upon the hands that "bore them. " ' My son, you have won your treasures too lightly,' he said. ' Where are your scars? Go earn your freedom by bringing me that which has cost you toil, or tears, or blood.' Then taking in Ms own the bleeding hands of' Pedro, 1 • These hands, wounded for love of me, are a thousand-fold more precious than any treasure." " My boys," added their mother (for George was at her feet beside his brother), "true treasure is not lightly won. That which costs you toil, or tears, or blood, is a treasure worth possessing." _ Children's Paper.