THE FRUIT OF HAPPINESS

sky darkened overhead until it grew as black as night.
Then came a great flash of fire from up in the sky, which
wrapped the travelling companion about until he was
hidden from sight. Then the flaming fire flew away to
heaven again, carrying him along with it. After that the
sky cleared once more, and, lo and behold! the garden
and the torrent and all were gone, and nothing was left
but a naked plain covered over with the bones of those
who had come that way before, seeking the fruit which
the travelling servant had sought.

It was a long time before the servant found his way
back into the world again, and the first house he came to,
weak and hungry, was the widow’s.

But what a change he beheld! It was a poor cottage
no longer, but a splendid palace, fit for a queen to dwell
in. The widow herself met him at the door, and she was
dressed in clothes fit for a queen to wear, shining with
gold and silver and precious stones.

The servant stood and stared like one bereft of wits.
“Flow comes all this change?” said he, “and how did
you get all these grand things ?”

“My son,” said the widow woman, “has just been to
the garden, and has brought home from there the fruit of
happiness. Many a day did we search, but never could
we find how to enter into the garden, until, the other day,
an angel came and showed the way tomy son, and he was
able not only to gather of the fruit for himself, but to
bring an apple for me also.”

Then the poor travelling servant began to thump his
head. He saw well enough through the millstone now,
and that he, too, might have had one of the fruit if he had
put held his tongue a little longer.

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