Tell me again,
boy, which was the better son?"
"The one that loved him," said the boy.
"Very well! very well!" said the old man, loudly. "A man had two
neighbours, an' one stole not his sheep for fear o' the law, an'
the other, sor, he stole them not, because he loved his neighbour.
Now which was the better man?"
"The man that loved him."
"Very well! very well! and again very well!" said the tinker,
louder than before. "There were two kings, an' one was feared, an'
the other, he was beloved; which was the better king?"
"The one that was beloved."
"Very well! and three times again very well!" said the old man,
warmly. "An' the good God is he not greater an' more to be loved
than all kings? Fear, boy, that is the whip o' destiny driving the
dumb herd. To all that fear I say 'tis well, have fear, but pray
that love may conquer it. To all that love I say, fear only lest
ye lose the great treasure. Love is the best thing, an' with too
much fear it sickens. Always keep it with thee--a little is a
goodly property an' its revenoo is happiness. Therefore, be happy,
boy--try ever to be happy."
There was a moment of silence broken by the sound of a church bell.
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