登陆注册
38861800000009

第9章

They accomplished some good in the world.Does not that count for something?""Yes," answered he Keeper of the Gate, "it counts in the world--where you counted it.But it does not belong to you here.We have saved and used everything that you sent us.This is the mansion prepared for you."As he spoke, his look grew deeper and more searching, like a flame of fire.

John Weightman could not endure it.It seemed to strip him nakedand wither him.He sank to the ground under a crushing weight of shame, covering his eyes with his hands and cowering face downward upon the stones.Dimly through the trouble of his mind he felt their hardness and coldness.

"Tell me, then," he cried, brokenly, "since my life has been so little worth, how came I here at all?""Through the mercy of the King"--the answer was like the soft tolling of a bell.

"And how have I earned it?" he murmured.

"It is never earned; it is only given," came the clear, low reply.

"But how have I failed so wretchedly," he asked, "in all the purpose of my life? What could I have done better? What is it that counts here?""Only that which is truly given," answered the bell-like voice.

Only that good which is done for the love of doing it.

Only those plans in which the welfare of others is the master thought.

Only those labors in which the sacrifice is greater than the reward.

Only those gifts in which the giver forgets himself."The man lay silent.A great weakness, an unspeakable despondency and humiliation were upon him.But the face of the Keeper of the Gate was infinitely tender as he bent over him.

"Think again, John Weightman.Has there been nothing like that in your life?""Nothing," he sighed."If there ever were such things, it must have been long ago--they were all crowded out--I have forgotten them."There was an ineffable smile on the face of the Keeper of the Gate, and his hand made the sign of the cross over the bowed head as hespoke gently:

"These are the things that the King never forgets; and because there were a few of them in your life, you have a little place here."The sense of coldness and hardness under John Weightman's hands grew sharper and more distinct.The feeling of bodily weariness and lassitude weighed upon him, but there was a calm, almost a lightness, in his heart as he listened to the fading vibrations of the silvery bell-tones.The chimney clock on the mantel had just ended the last stroke of seven as he lifted his head from the table.

Thin, pale strips of the city morning were falling into the room through the narrow partings of the heavy curtains.

What was it that had happened to him? Had he been ill? Had he died and come to life again? Or had he only slept, and had his soul gone visiting in dreams? He sat for some time, motionless, not lost, but finding himself in thought.Then he took a narrow book from the table drawer, wrote a check, and tore it out.

He went slowly up the stairs, knocked very softly at his son's door, and, hearing no answer, entered without noise.Harold was asleep, his bare arm thrown above his head, and his eager face relaxed in peace.

His father looked at him a moment with strangely shining eyes, and then tiptoed quietly to the writing-desk, found a pencil and a sheet of paper, and wrote rapidly:

"My dear boy, here is what you asked me for; do what you like with it, and ask for more if you need it.If you are still thinking of that work with Grenfell, we'll talk it over to-day after church.

I want to know your heart better; and if I have made mistakes--"A slight noise made him turn his head.Harold was sitting up in bed with wide-open eyes.

"Father!" he cried, "is that you?"

"Yes, my son," answered John Weightman; "I've come back--I mean I've come up--no, I mean come in--well, here I am, and God give us a good Christmas together."End

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 魔鬼圣约

    魔鬼圣约

    他乌黑干枯的手指有节奏地敲击着泛黄的颅髅头骨。“心藏亘古之黑暗,肆意不羁的存在者。嘲弄高天之上的火焰,圣徒面前的浓烟!吾即是圣火熄灭之日的迎奉者。已立睹你虚伪的荣耀!以智慧之名!”黑袍人沙哑干涩地低颂着……“我已经在地狱游荡了千年!我曾到达冥河的彼岸,带来沉沦者呢喃的预言。他们说,他到来了!他降生了!【酒卿读者群:173371370】
  • 北京夜未央

    北京夜未央

    杨帆一个被电影学院劝退的学生,一个迫于无奈选择北漂的懵懂青年,他走进夜店成为一名DJ开始自己新的生活,在音乐的节奏中寻觅自我,在夜的魅力与现实的残酷中徘徊,欲望、无奈、彷徨、希望、梦想北京魅力之都即将登场。
  • 我喜欢的光会是暖黄色的

    我喜欢的光会是暖黄色的

    这是一个很长(短)的故事
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 九州之王朝的裂缝

    九州之王朝的裂缝

    铁甲依然在。九州发展到了晟朝,乱世同盟的传说依然在继续。帝初即位,晋北、离、休等十国反。帝力排众议,以彭蠡为大将军,方羽为先锋,率军亲征,疾拔之。时人誉之为百年以来不世武功。时帝年十七。他就是被后世称为晟景帝的姬衍,羽烈王姬野的后裔。《九州·王朝的裂缝》的故事就此展开……而姬衍却只是小说的背景,那些真正的主人公,那些搅动乱世纷争的男人,那些一言止战、一曲止杀的女子,正在小说中等待着各位读者。
  • 太上三天正法经

    太上三天正法经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • TFBOYS王俊凯之一见卿心

    TFBOYS王俊凯之一见卿心

    初入娱乐圈的宋锦卿因出演一部电视剧而一夜爆红,她的经纪公司和当红偶像组合tfboys成员王俊凯的经纪公司因为某种利益关系让两人在短时间内完婚。在婚礼现场和王俊凯绯闻闹得沸沸扬扬的女星薛芷晴突然出现,顿时又掀起一阵狂澜。这对在婚礼现场第一次见面的夫妻到底命运会怎么样呢?他们的婚礼还能顺利进行吗?
  • 21世纪的死灵法师

    21世纪的死灵法师

    死灵法师Necromancer是来源于古欧洲的一种神秘巫师,这些人往往是男性,懂得召唤奴役死者的灵魂,使之成为不死生物。通常修此业者,身体羸弱,面色苍白,心理扭曲,不亲近并且怀疑他人。某些技艺精深者,可以用肉体为代价,变为巫妖获得永久的生命。但是谁能告诉我,怎么在21世纪修炼亡灵巫术啊!法治社会我连一具骷髅都弄不到啊!三澄美琴:陈医生,快来帮我看下这具尸体,我找不到死者的死因!城之内博美:陈医生,先来帮我看看这个患者,他到底是什么病!新书《从泡沫时代开始的人生》已发,求收藏、求推荐!书友群号:671488155
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!