Nay, there'd be trouble among the clocks.
I'd be ashamed to look them in the face. Nay,--I thank thee,--but
I must mind the clocks."
The great player smiled with amusement.
"Then," said he, "I shall have to come and see you play your part.
Till then, sir, God give you happiness."
"Once upon a time," said Darrel, as he held the hand of the player,
"a weary traveller came to the gate o' Heaven, seeking entrance.
"'What hast thou in thy heart?' said the good St. Peter.
"'The record o' great suffering an' many prayers,' said the poor
man. 'I pray thee now, give me the happiness o' Heaven.'
"'Good man, we have none to spare,' said the keeper. 'Heaven hath
no happiness but that men bring. It is a gift to God and comes not
from Him. Would ye take o' that we have an' bring nothing? Nay,
go back to thy toil an' fill thy heart with happiness, an' bring it
to me overflowing. Then shalt thou know the joy o' paradise.
Remember, God giveth counsel, but not happiness.'"
"If I only had your wisdom," said Forrest, as they parted.
"Ye'd have need o' more," the tinker answered.
Trove and Darrel walked to the clearing above Faraway. At a corner
on the high hills, where northward they could see smoke and spire
of distant villages, each took his way,--one leading to
Hillsborough, the other to Allen's.
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