IT was a beautiful summer’s morning; the sun shone brightly, the birds sang gaily, and pretty flowers grew in the hedges, whilst a little boy toiled along the country road. His feet were covered with dust, and his face was hot and red. He did not stay to rest under the wide-spreading branches of an oak tree, that threw a delightful shade over the grass which grew by the wayside, but he still pressed on, though very tired and out of breath. His clothes were soiled and ragged, and as the sun beat down upon his uncovered head, he seemed very anxious to get to his journey’s end.
Why was he there? and why did he not stop to rest? I will tell you.
A very rich gentleman who lived about two miles away from the village where this little fellow’s home was, had sent his servant round on horseback the day before, to invite all the children of the village to spend the next day in his beautiful garden and park. They were to arrive at 10 o’clock, and no one was to enter who came after half-past 10. The children were to play under the trees, and to amuse themselves all day long as they liked best, and, before they left, the gentleman promised to give them tea.
The parents were to bring the children first of all to the gentleman’s house, where every little child was to be supplied with a new suit of clothes, so that each one might enter clean and neat.
The man on horseback went to the village as his master told him, and gave an invitation to all the little children. Now it happened that one boy had no parents living, and he was playing with some rough boys in the middle of the road when the servant came up to them and told them the good news. What do you think they did? Do you think they said, “Thank you, Sir; we will be sure and come at the right time?” No, indeed, they laughed and mocked, and said the man was only taking them in; that they were not going to be silly enough to walk all the way for nothing, and went on with their play.
The servant rode home—his duty was to give his master’s message to all the little children.
Well, when the right day came for the children to start, many little ones set out for the gentleman’s pleasant garden, but this boy, Torn, was fast asleep. He had not believed the good news, and so did not think of rising early; he was awakened at last by hearing some people talking about the beautiful treat for the children. They had passed the grounds, and seen the happy groups through the hedges.
Tom put on his clothes, and in a few minutes was to be seen toiling along the hot road, as I pictured him to you.
Before a great while he caught sight of the large gates which opened on to the park; he heard music playing; he saw flags flying in the air; and every now and then the merry laugh of a little child at play reached his ear.
Tom went close up to the gates, he pulled the bell, and in another minute the porter came to him. He could speak civilly now, so he said—
“Please, may I come in and play with those children?”
“You are too late,” said the man; “you should have been here nearly two hours ago. Did you not hear the gentleman’s kind message?”
“Yes,” said the boy, hanging down his head, and coloring up to his eyes, “but I did not know whether it was true.”
The porter looked very angry.
“Not believe my master’s word? Then I’m sure you don’t deserve to come in: when he was so kind as to send it to your very door, you had nothing to do but to believe it, and come to him.”
“Perhaps, if you ask him, he’ll let me in now,” said the boy.
“No, indeed,” answered the man. “He would have been glad to see you at the right time, but it is too late now; and look at your clothes, they are not fit. The good gentleman would have given you a suit if you had only gone to him when he invited you! But I cannot stay talking; you should have come when you were told. Be off.”
ML 08/17/1902