TWILIGHT LAND

“The fruit of happiness!” said the first raven, “and of
what use would the fruit of happiness be to him 2”

“What use? I tell you, friend, there is no fruit in the
world like that, for one has only to hold it in one’s hand and
wish, and whatever one asks for one shall have.”

You may guess that when the servant understood the
talk of the ravens he was not slow in making use of what
he heard. Up he scrambled, and away he went as fast
as his legs could carry him. On and on he travelled,
until he came to the cross-roads and the stone cross of
which the raven spoke, and there, sure enough, sat the
traveller. He was clad in a weather-stained coat, and he
wore dusty boots, and the servant bade him good-morning.

How should the servant know that it was an angel
whom he beheld, and not a common wayfarer ?

“Whither away, comrade ?” asked the traveller.

“Out in the world,” said the servant, ‘to seek my for-
tune. And what I want to know is this—will you guide
me to where I can find the fruit of happiness ?”

“You ask a great thing of me,” said the other ; ‘“never-
theless, since you do ask it, it is not for me to refuse,
though I may tell you that many a man has sought for
that fruit, and few indeed have found it. But if I guide
you to the garden where the fruit grows, there is one
condition you must fulfil: many strange things will
happen upon our journey between here and there, but
concerning all you see you must ask not a question and
Say not a word. Do you agree to that?”

“Yes,” said the servant, ‘I do.”

“Very well,” said his new comrade; ‘then let us be
jogging, for I have business in the town to-night, and the
time is none too long to get there.” _

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