But here we call the bad man
good, and the good man bad. That seems strange to you. Well then, look
yonder. You considered that statesman to be sincere; but we say he was
insincere. We chose as our poet-laureate a man at whom your world
scoffed. Ay, and those flowers yonder: for us they have a fragrant
charm; we love to see them near us. But you do not even take the trouble
to pluck them from the hedges where they grow in rich profusion. So, you
see, what we value as a treasure, you do not value at all."
Then he turned to Failure.
"And your name?" he asked kindly, though indeed he must have known it.
"I am Failure," she said sadly.
He took her by the hand.
"Come, now, Success," he said to her: "let me lead you into the
Presence-Chamber."
Then she who had been called Failure, and was now called Success,
lifted up her bowed head, and raised her weary frame, and smiled at
the music of her new name. And with that smile she regained her beauty
and her hope. And hope having come back to her, all her strength
returned.
"But what of her," she asked regretfully of the old grey-haired man;
"must she be left?"
"She will learn," the old man whispered.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174