TWILIGHT LAND

wish that I could tell you how beautiful that garden was.

And in the middle of it grew a.golden tree, and on it
golden fruit. The servant, who had travelled so long
and so far, could see it plainly from where he stood, and
he did not need to be told that it was the fruit of happi-
ness. But, after all, all he could do was to stand and
look, for in front of them was a great raging torrent, with-
out a bridge for a body to cross over.

“Yonder is what you seek,” said the young man,
pointing with his finger, “and there you can see for
yourself the fruit of happiness.”

The travelling companion said never a word, good or
bad, but, suddenly catching the widow's son by the
collar, he lifted him and flung him into the black, rushing
water. Splash! went the young man, and then away he
went whirling over rocks and waterfalls. “There!”
cried the comrade, “that is your reward for your
service!”

When the servant saw this cruel, wicked deed, he
found his tongue at last, and all that he had bottled up
for the seven days came frothing out of him like hot
beer. Such abuse as he showered upon his travelling
companion no man ever listened to before. But to all
the servant said the other answered never a word until
he had stopped for sheer want of breath. Then—

“Poor fool,” said the travelling companion, “if you
had only held your tongue a minute longer, you, too,
would have had the fruit of happiness in your hand.
Now it will be many a day before you have a sight of it
again.”

Thereupon, as he ended speaking, he struck his staff
upon the ground. Instantly the earth trembled, and the

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