fiction and short story

A man called home to his wife and said, "Honey I have been asked to go fishing up in Canada with my boss & several of his Friends.
We'll be gone for a week. This is a good opportunity for me to get that Promotion I'v been wanting, so could you please pack enough Clothes for a week and set out
my rod and fishing box, we're Leaving From the office & I will swing by the house to pick my things up" "Oh! Please pack my new blue silk pajamas."
The wife thinks this sounds a bit fishy but being the good wife she is, did exactly what her husband asked.
The following Weekend he came home a little tired but otherwise looking good.
The wife welcomed him home and asked if he caught many fish?
He said, "Yes! Lots of Salmon, some Bluegill, and a few Swordfish. But why didn't you pack my new blue silk pajamas like I asked you to Do?"
You'll love the answer...
The wife replied, "I did. They're in your fishing box



مردی باهمسرش در خانه تماس گرفت و گفت:"عزیزم ازمن خواسته شده که با رئیس و چند تا از دوستانش برای ماهیگیری به کانادابرویم"
ما به مدت یک هفته آنجا خواهیم بود.این فرصت خوبی است تا ارتقائ شغلی که منتظرش بودم بگیرم بنابراین لطفا لباس های کافی برای یک هفته برایم بردار و وسایل ماهیگیری مرا هم آماده کن
ما از اداره حرکت خواهیم کرد و من سر راه وسایلم را از خانه برخواهم داشت ، راستی اون لباس های راحتی ابریشمی آبی رنگم را هم بردار
زن با خودش فکر کرد که این مساله یک کمی غیرطبیعی است اما بخاطر این که نشان دهد همسر خوبی است دقیقا کارهایی را که همسرش خواسته بود انجام داد..
هفته بعد مرد به خانه آمد ، یک کمی خسته به نظر می رسید اما ظاهرش خوب ومرتب بود.
همسرش به او خوش آمد گفت و از او پرسید که آیا او ماهی گرفته است یا نه؟
مرد گفت :"بله تعداد زیادی ماهی قزل آلا،چند تایی ماهی فلس آبی و چند تا هم اره ماهی گرفتیم . اما چرا اون لباس راحتی هایی که گفته بودم برایم نگذاشتی؟"
جواب زن خیلی جالب بود...
زن جواب داد: لباس های راحتی رو توی جعبه وسایل ماهیگیریت گذاشته بودم.​

An older gentleman was playing a round of golf. Suddenly his ball sliced and landed in a shallow pond. As he was attempting to retrieve the ball he discovered a frog that, to his great surprise, started to speak! "Kiss me, and I will change into a beautiful princess, and I will be yours for a week." He picked up the frog and placed it in his pocket.

As he continued to play golf, the frog repeated its message. "Kiss me, and I will change into a beautiful princess, and I will be yours for a whole month!" The man continued to play his golf game and once again the frog spoke out. "Kiss me, and I will change into a beautiful princess, and I will be yours for a whole year!" Finally, the old man turned to the frog and exclaimed, "At my age, I’d rather have a talking frog



پيرمردي، در حال بازي كردن گلف بود. ناگهان توپش به خارج از زمين و داخل بركه*ي كم*آبي رفت. همانطور كه در حال براي پيدا كردن مجدد توپ تلاش مي*كرد با نهايت تعجب متوجه شد كه يك قورباغه شروع به حرف زدن كرد: مرا ببوس، و من به شاهزاده*ي زيبا تبديل شوم، و براي يك هفته براي شما خواهم بود. او قورباغه را برداشت و در جيبش گذاشت.

همانطور كه داشت به بازي گلف ادامه مي*داد، قورباغه همين پيغام را تكرار كرد «مرا ببوس، و من به شاهزاده*ي زيبا تبديل شوم، و براي يك ماه براي شما خواهم بود». آن مرد همچنان به بازي گلفش ادامه داد و يك بار ديگر قورباغه گفت: مرا ببوس، و من به شاهزاده*ي زيبا تبديل شوم، و براي يك سال براي شما خواهم بود. سرانجام، پيرمرد رو به قورباغه كرد و بانگ زد:* با اين سن، ترجیح مي*دم يه قورباغه سخنگو داشته باشم.​

A 45 year old woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God she asked "Is my time up?" God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live.
"Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a Face-lift, liposuction, ****** implants and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair colour and brighten her teeth!
Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it. After her last operation, she was released from the hospital.
While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance. Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 43 years? Why didn't you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?
God replied: I didn't recognize you



یک خانم 45 ساله که یک حملهء قلبی داشت و در بیمارستان بستری بود . در اتاق جراحی که کم مونده بود مرگ را تجربه کند خدا رو دید و پرسید آیا وقت من تمام است؟ خدا گفت:نه شما 43 سال و 2 ماه و 8 روز دیگه عمر می کنید.
در وقت مرخصی خانم تصمیم گرفت در بیمارستان بماند و عملهای زیر را انجام دهد کشیدن پوست صورت-تخلیهء چربیها(لیپو ساکشن)-عمل سینه هاو جمع و جور کردن شکم . او حالا کسی رو نداشت که بیاد و موهاشو رنگ کنه و دندوناشو سفید کنه !
از اونجايي كه او زمان بيشتري براي زندگي داشت از اين رو او تصميم گرفت كه بتواند بيشترين استفاده را از اين موقعيت (زندگي) ببرد.بعد از آخرين عملش او از بيمارستان مرخص شد
در وقت گذشتن از خیابان در راه منزل بوسیلهء یک آمبولانس کشته شد . وقتی با خدا روبرو شد او پرسید: من فکر کردم شما فرمودید من 43 سال دیگه فرصت دارم چرا شما مرا از زیر آمبولانس بیرون نکشیدید؟
خدا جواب داد :من شمارو تشخیص ندادم!​

[FONT=bookman old style, new york, times, serif] My Wife Navaz Called,

'How Long Will You Be With That Newspaper?

Will U Come Here And Make UR Darling Daughter Eat Her Food?

همسرم نواز با صدای بلند گفت، تا کی می خوای سرتو توی اون روزنامه فرو کنی؟ میشه بیای و به دختر جونت بگی غذاشو بخوره؟

Farnoosh Tossed The Paper Away And Rushed To The Scene.

شوهر روزنامه رو به کناری انداخت و بسوی آنها رفت

My Only Daughter, Ava Looked Frightened; Tears Were Welling Up In Her Eyes.

تنها دخترم آوا بنظر وحشت زده می آمد. اشک در چشمهایش پر شده بود
In Front Of Her Was A Bowl Filled To its Brim With Curd Rice.

ظرفی پر از شیربرنج در مقابلش قرار داشت

Ava is A Nice Child, Very Intelligent For Her Age.

آوا دختری زیبا و برای سن خود بسیار باهوش بود

I Cleared My Throat And Picked Up The Bowl. 'Ava, Darling, Why Don't U Take A Few Mouthful
Of This Curd Rice?

گلویم رو صاف کردم و ظرف را برداشتم و گفتم، چرا چند تا قاشق گنده نمی خوری؟

Just For Dad's Sake, Dear'.
Ava Softened A Bit And Wiped Her Tears With The Back Of Her Hands.

فقط بخاطر بابا عزیزم. آوا کمی نرمش نشان داد و با پشت دست اشکهایش را پاک کرد و گفت

'Ok, Dad. I Will Eat - Not Just A Few Mouthfuls,But The Whole Lot Of This.

But, U should....' Ava Hesitated.

باشه بابا، می خورم، نه فقط چند قاشق، همه شو می خوردم. ولی شما باید.... آوا مکث کرد

'Dad, if I Eat This Entire Curd Rice, Will U Give Me Whatever I Ask For?'

بابا، اگر من تمام این شیر برنج رو بخورم، هرچی خواستم بهم میدی؟
'Promise'. I Covered The Pink Soft Hand Extended By My Daughter With Mine, And Clinched The Deal.

دست کوچک دخترم رو که بطرف من دراز شده بود گرفتم و گفتم، قول میدم. بعد باهاش دست دادم و تعهد کردم
Now I Became A Bit Anxious.
'Ava, Dear, U Shouldn't Insist On Getting A Computer Or Any Such Expensive Items.

ناگهان مضطرب شدم. گفتم، آوا، عزیزم، نباید برای خریدن کامپیوتر یا یک چیز گران قیمت اصرار کنی

Dad Does Not Have That kind of Money Right now. Ok?'

بابا از اینجور پولها نداره. باشه؟


'No, Dad. I Do Not Want Anything Expensive'.
Slowly And Painfully,She Finished Eating The Whole Quantity.

نه بابا. من هیچ چیز گران قیمتی نمی خوام.

و با حالتی دردناک تمام شیربرنج رو فرو داد.


I Was Silently Angry With My Wife And My Mother For Forcing My Child To Eat Something That She Detested.

در سکوت از دست همسرم و مادرم که بچه رو وادار به خوردن چیزی که دوست نداشت کرده بودن عصبانی بودم
After The Ordeal Was Through, Ava Came To Me With Her Eyes Wide With Expectation.

وقتی غذا تمام شد آوا نزد من آمد. انتظار در چشمانش موج میزد

All Our Attention Was On Her.
'Dad, I Want To Have My Head Shaved Off, This Sunday!'

همه ما به او توجه کرده بودیم. آوا گفت، من می خوام سرمو تیغ بندازم. همین یکشنبه

Was Her Demand..
'Atrocious!' Shouted My Wife, 'A Girl Child Having Her Head Shaved Off?
Impossible!'
'Never in Our Family!'
My Mother Rasped.
'She Has Been Watching Too Much Of Television. Our Culture is Getting Totally Spoiled With These TV Programs!'

تقاضای او همین بود.

همسرم جیغ زد و گفت، وحشتناکه. یک دختر بچه سرشو تیغ بندازه؟ غیرممکنه. نه در خانواده ما. و مادرم با صدای گوشخراشش گفت، فرهنگ ما با این برنامه های تلویزیونی داره کاملا نابود میشه
'Ava, Darling, Why Don't U Ask For Something Else? We Will Be Sad Seeing U With A Clean-Shaven Head.'

گفتم، آوا، عزیزم، چرا یک چیز دیگه نمی خوای؟ ما از دیدن سر تیغ خورده تو غمگین می شیم

'Please, Ava, Why Don't U Try To Understand Our Feelings?'

خواهش می کنم، عزیزم، چرا سعی نمی کنی احساس ما رو بفهمی؟

I Tried To Plead With Her.
'Dad, U Saw How Difficult It Was For Me To Eat That Curd Rice'.

سعی کردم از او خواهش کنم. آوا گفت، بابا، دیدی که خوردن اون شیربرنج چقدر برای من سخت بود

Ava Was in Tears.
'And U Promised To Grant Me Whatever I Ask For. Now,U Are Going Back On UR Words.

آوا اشک می ریخت. و شما بمن قول دادی تا هرچی می خوام بهم بدی. حالا می خوای بزنی زیر قولت

It Was Time For Me To Call The Shots.
'Our Promise Must Be Kept.'

حالا نوبت من بود تا خودم رو نشون بدم. گفتم، مرده و قولش
'Are U Out Of UR Mind?' Chorused My Mother And Wife.

مادر و همسرم با هم فریاد زدن که، مگر دیوانه شدی؟ ​

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Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love. Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment. When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help. Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you." Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered. Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you." "Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!" Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her. Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?" "It was Time," Knowledge answered. "Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?" Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is.​

A small crack appeared on a cocoon. A man sat for hours and watched carefully the struggle of the butterfly to get out of that small crack of cocoon. Then the butterfly stopped striving. It seemed that she was exhausted and couldn’t go on trying. The man decided to help the poor creature. He widened the crack by scissors. The butterfly came out of cocoon easily, but her body was tiny and her wings were wrinkled. The ma continued watching the butterfly. He expected to see her wings become expanded to protect her body. But it didn’t happen! As a matter of fact, the butterfly had to crawl on the ground for the rest of her life, for she could never fly. The kind man didn’t realize that God had arranged the limitation of cocoon and also the struggle for butterfly to get out of it, so that a certain fluid could be discharged from her body to enable her to fly afterward. Sometimes struggling is the only thing we need to do. If God had provided us with an easy to live without any difficulties then we become paralyzed, couldn’t become strong and could not fly​

پیتر هشت سال و نیمش بود و به یک مدرسه در نزدیکی خونشون می‌رفت. او همیشه پیاده به آن جا می‌رفت و بر می‌گشت، و همیشه به موقع برمی‌گشت، اما جمعه‌ی قبل از مدرسه دیر به خانه آمد. مادرش در آشپزخانه بود،‌ و وقتی او (پیتر) را دید ازش پرسید «پیتر، چرا امروز دیر آمدی»؟​

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پیتر گفت: معلم عصبانی بود و بعد از درس مرا به پیش مدیر فرستاد.​

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مادرش گفت: پیش مدیر؟ چرا تو را پیش او فرستاد؟​

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پیتر گفت: برای اینکه او در کلاس یک سوال پرسید و هیچکس به غیر از من به سوال او جواب نداد.​

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مادرش عصبانی بود و از پیتر پرسید: در آن صورت چرا تو را پیش مدیر فرستاد؟ چرا بقیه‌ی بچه‌های احمق رو نفرستاد؟​

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پیتر گفت: برای اینکه سوالش این بود «چه کسی روی صندلی من چسب گذاشته؟»​

My mom only had one eye. I hated her... she was such an embarrassment.
مادر من فقط یک چشم داشت . من از اون متنفر بودم ... اون همیشه مایه خجالت من بود
She cooked for students & teachers to support the family.
اون برای امرار معاش خانواده برای معلم ها و بچه مدرسه ای ها غذا می پخت
There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me.
یک روز اومده بود دم در مدرسه که به من سلام کنه و منو با خود به خونه ببره
I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me?
خیلی خجالت کشیدم . آخه اون چطور تونست این کار رو بامن بکنه ؟
I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out.
به روی خودم نیاوردم ، فقط با تنفر بهش یه نگاه کردم وفورا از اونجا دور شدم
The next day at school one of my classmates said, "EEEE, your mom only has one eye!"
روز بعد یکی از همکلاسی ها منو مسخره کرد و گفت هووو .. مامان تو فقط یک چشم داره
I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear.
فقط دلم میخواست یک جوری خودم رو گم و گور کنم . کاش زمین دهن وا میکرد و منو ..کاش مادرم یه جوری گم و گور میشد...
So I confronted her that day and said, " If you're only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?!!!"
روز بعد بهش گفتم اگه واقعا میخوای منو شاد و خوشحال کنی چرا نمی میری ؟
My mom did not respond...
اون هیچ جوابی نداد....
I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger.
حتی یک لحظه هم راجع به حرفی که زدم فکر نکردم ، چون خیلی عصبانی بودم .
I was oblivious to her feelings.
احساسات اون برای من هیچ اهمیتی نداشت
I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her.
دلم میخواست از اون خونه برم و دیگه هیچ کاری با اون نداشته باشم
So I studied real hard, got a chance to go to Singapore to study.
سخت درس خوندم و موفق شدم برای ادامه تحصیل به سنگاپور برم
Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own.
اونجا ازدواج کردم ، واسه خودم خونه خریدم ، زن و بچه و زندگی...
I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts
از زندگی ، بچه ها و آسایشی که داشتم خوشحال بودم
Then one day, my mother came to visit me.
تا اینکه یه روز مادرم اومد به دیدن من
She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her grandchildren.
اون سالها منو ندیده بود و همینطور نوه ها شو
When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited.
وقتی ایستاده بود دم در بچه ها به اون خندیدند و من سرش داد کشیدم که چرا خودش رو دعوت کرده که بیاد اینجا ، اونم بی خبر
I screamed at her, "How dare you come to my house and scare my children!" GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!"
سرش داد زدم ": چطور جرات کردی بیای به خونه من و بجه ها رو بترسونی؟!" گم شو از اینجا! همین حالا
And to this, my mother quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she disappeared out of sight.
اون به آرامی جواب داد : " اوه خیلی معذرت میخوام مثل اینکه آدرس رو عوضی اومدم " و بعد فورا رفت واز نظر ناپدید شد .
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house in Singapore .
یک روز یک دعوت نامه اومد در خونه من درسنگاپور برای شرکت درجشن تجدید دیدار دانش آموزان مدرسه
So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip.
ولی من به همسرم به دروغ گفتم که به یک سفر کاری میرم .
After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
بعد از مراسم ، رفتم به اون کلبه قدیمی خودمون ؛ البته فقط از روی کنجکاوی .
My neighbors said that she is died.
همسایه ها گفتن که اون مرده
I did not shed a single tear.
ولی من حتی یک قطره اشک هم نریختم
They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.
اونا یک نامه به من دادند که اون ازشون خواسته بود که به من بدن
"My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to Singapore and scared your children.
ای عزیزترین پسر من ، من همیشه به فکر تو بوده ام ، منو ببخش که به خونت تو سنگاپور اومدم و بچه ها تو ترسوندم ،
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion.
خیلی خوشحال شدم وقتی شنیدم داری میآی اینجا
But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.
ولی من ممکنه که نتونم از جام بلند شم که بیام تورو ببینم
I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
وقتی داشتی بزرگ میشدی از اینکه دائم باعث خجالت تو شدم خیلی متاسفم
You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye.
آخه میدونی ... وقتی تو خیلی کوچیک بودی تو یه تصادف یک چشمت رو از دست دادی
As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye.
به عنوان یک مادر نمی تونستم تحمل کنم و ببینم که تو داری بزرگ میشی با یک چشم
So I gave you mine.
بنابراین چشم خودم رو دادم به تو
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.
برای من اقتخار بود که پسرم میتونست با اون چشم به جای من دنیای جدید رو بطور کامل ببینه
With my love to you,
با همه عشق و علاقه من به تو​

A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the boy trips and feeling a sharp pain he screams, “Ahhhhh.”
Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, “Ahhhhh!”
Filled with curiosity, he screams: “Who are you?”, but the only answer he receives is: “Who are you?”
This makes him angry, so he screams: “You are a coward!”, and the voice answers: “You are a coward!”
He looks at his father, asking, “Dad, what is going on?”
“Son,” the man replies, “pay attention!” Then he screams, “I admire you!”
The voice answers: “I admire you!”
The father shouts, “You are wonderful!”, and the voice answers: “You are wonderful!”
The boy is surprised, but still can’t understand what is going on.
Then the father explains, “People call this ‘ECHO’, but truly it is ‘LIFE!’ Life always gives you back what you give out! Life is a mirror of your actions. If you want more love, give more love! If you want more kindness, give more kindness!
If you want understanding and respect, give understanding and respect!
If you want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and respect! This rule of nature applies to every aspect of our lives.”


Life always gives you back what you give out.
Your life is not a coincidence,but a mirror of your own doings​

Money is yours, but the Resources belong to the Society


This may or may not be a True Story, but it gives us a very important Lesson in life.
Germany is a highly industrialized country. It produces top brands like Benz, BMW, Siemens etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made in a small town in this country. In such a country, many will think its people lead a luxurious life. At least that was my impression before my study trip.
When I arrived at Hamburg , my colleagues who work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty. There was a table where a young couple was having their meal. There were only two dishes and two cans of drinks on the table. I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic.
There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates.

We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to the dishes we ordered. As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us. As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there were other activities arranged for us, we did not spend much time dining. When we left, there was still about one third of unconsumed food on the table.
When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us. We noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the restaurant owner. When they spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us wasting so much food. We immediately felt that they were really being too busybody.

“We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind,” my colleague Gui told the old ladies.The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her hand phone out and made a call to someone. After a while, a man in uniform claimed to be an officer from the Social Security organization arrived. Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Euro fine. We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50 Euro note and repeatedly apologized to the officer.
The officer told us in a stern voice,
“ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME, MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES.”

​

[SIZE=-1]THE King was a man that stood well before the world; his smile was [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]sweet as clover, but his soul withinsides was as little as a pea. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]He had two sons; and the younger son was a boy after his heart, but [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the elder was one whom he feared. It befell one morning that the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]drum sounded in the dun before it was yet day; and the King rode [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]with his two sons, and a brave array behind them. They rode two [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]hours, and came to the foot of a brown mountain that was very [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]steep.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Where do we ride?" said the elder son.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Across this brown mountain." said the King, and smiled to himself.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"My father knows what he is doing," said the younger son.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]And they rode two hours more, and came to the sides of a black [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]river that was wondrous deep.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"And where do we ride?" asked the elder son.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Over this black river," said the King, and smiled to himself.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"My father knows what he is doing," said the younger son.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]And they rode all that day, and about the time of the sunsetting [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]came to the side of a lake, where was a great dun.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"It is here we ride," said the King; "to a King's house, and a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]priest's, and a house where you will learn much."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]At the gates of the dun, the King who was a priest met them; and he [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]was a grave man, and beside him stood his daughter, and she was as [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]fair as the morn, and one that smiled and looked down.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"These are my two sons," said the first King.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"And here is my daughter," said the King who was a priest.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"She is a wonderful fine maid," said the first King, "and I like [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her manner of smiling,"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"They are wonderful well-grown lads," said the second, "and I like [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]their gravity."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]And then the two Kings looked at each other, and said, "The thing [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]may come about".[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]And in the meanwhile the two lads looked upon the maid, and the one [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]grew pale and the other red; and the maid looked upon the ground [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]smiling.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Here is the maid that I shall marry," said the elder. "For I [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]think she smiled upon me."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]But the younger plucked his father by the sleeve. "Father," said [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]he, "a word in your ear. If I find favour in your sight, might not [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]I wed this maid, for I think she smiles upon me?"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"A word in yours," said the King his father. "Waiting is good [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]hunting, and when the teeth are shut the tongue is at home."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Now they were come into the dun, and feasted; and this was a great [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]house, so that the lads were astonished; and the King that was a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]priest sat at the end of the board and was silent, so that the lads [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]were filled with reverence; and the maid served them smiling with [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]downcast eyes, so that their hearts were enlarged.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Before it was day, the elder son arose, and he found the maid at [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her weaving, for she was a diligent girl. "Maid," quoth he, "I [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]would fain marry you."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"You must speak with my father," said she, and she looked upon the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ground smiling, and became like the rose.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Her heart is with me," said the elder son, and he went down to the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lake and sang.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]A little after came the younger son. "Maid," quoth he, "if our [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]fathers were agreed, I would like well to marry you."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"You can speak to my father," said she; and looked upon the ground, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and smiled and grew like the rose.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"She is a dutiful daughter," said the younger son, "she will make [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]an obedient wife." And then he thought, "What shall I do?" and he [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]remembered the King her father was a priest; so he went into the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]temple, and sacrificed a weasel and a hare.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Presently the news got about; and the two lads and the first King [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]were called into the presence of the King who was a priest, where [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]he sat upon the high seat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Little I reck of gear," said the King who was a priest, "and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]little of power. For we live here among the shadow of things, and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the heart is sick of seeing them. And we stay here in the wind [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]like raiment drying, and the heart is weary of the wind. But one [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]thing I love, and that is truth; and for one thing will I give my [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]daughter, and that is the trial stone. For in the light of that [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]stone the seeming goes, and the being shows, and all things besides [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]are worthless. Therefore, lads, if ye would wed my daughter, out [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]foot, and bring me the stone of touch, for that is the price of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"A word in your ear," said the younger son to his father. "I think [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]we do very well without this stone."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"A word in yours," said the father. "I am of your way of thinking; [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]but when the teeth are shut the tongue is at home." And he smiled [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]to the King that was a priest.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]But the elder son got to his feet, and called the King that was a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]priest by the name of father. "For whether I marry the maid or no, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]I will call you by that word for the love of your wisdom; and even [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]now I will ride forth and search the world for the stone of touch." [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]So he said farewell, and rode into the world.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"I think I will go, too," said the younger son, "if I can have your [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]leave. For my heart goes out to the maid."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"You will ride home with me," said his father.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]So they rode home, and when they came to the dun, the King had his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]son into his treasury. "Here," said he, "is the touchstone which [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]shows truth; for there is no truth but plain truth; and if you will [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]look in this, you will see yourself as you are."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]And the younger son looked in it, and saw his face as it were the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]face of a beardless youth, and he was well enough pleased; for the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]thing was a piece of a mirror.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Here is no such great thing to make a work about," said he; "but [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]if it will get me the maid I shall never complain. But what a fool [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]is my brother to ride into the world, and the thing all the while [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]at home!"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]So they rode back to the other dun, and showed the mirror to the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]King that was a priest; and when he had looked in it, and seen [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]himself like a King, and his house like a King's house, and all [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]things like themselves, he cried out and blessed God. "For now I [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]know," said he, "there is no truth but the plain truth; and I am a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]King indeed, although my heart misgave me." And he pulled down his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]temple, and built a new one; and then the younger son was married [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]to the maid."."[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=-1]In the meantime the elder son rode into the world to find the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]touchstone of the trial of truth; and whenever he came to a place [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]of habitation, he would ask the men if they had heard of it. And [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]in every place the men answered: "Not only have we heard of it, but [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]we alone, of all men, possess the thing itself, and it hangs in the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]side of our chimney to this day". Then would the elder son be [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]glad, and beg for a sight of it. And sometimes it would be a piece [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]of mirror, that showed the seeming of things; and then he would [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]say, "This can never be, for there should be more than seeming". [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]And sometimes it would be a lump of coal, which showed nothing; and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]then he would say, "This can never be, for at least there is the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]seeming". And sometimes it would be a touchstone indeed, beautiful [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]in hue, adorned with polishing, the light inhabiting its sides; and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]when he found this, he would beg the thing, and the persons of that [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]place would give it him, for all men were very generous of that [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]gift; so that at the last he had his wallet full of them, and they [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]chinked together when he rode; and when he halted by the side of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the way he would take them out and try them, till his head turned [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]like the sails upon a windmill.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"A murrain upon this business!" said the elder son, "for I perceive [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]no end to it. Here I have the red, and here the blue and the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]green; and to me they seem all excellent, and yet shame each other. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]A murrain on the trade! If it were not for the King that is a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]priest and whom I have called my father, and if it were not for the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]fair maid of the dun that makes my mouth to sing and my heart [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]enlarge, I would even tumble them all into the salt sea, and go [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]home and be a King like other folk."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]But he was like the hunter that has seen a stag upon a mountain, so [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]that the night may fall, and the fire be kindled, and the lights [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]shine in his house; but desire of that stag is single in his bosom.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Now after many years the elder son came upon the sides of the salt [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]sea; and it was night, and a savage place, and the clamour of the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]sea was loud. There he was aware of a house, and a man that sat [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]there by the light of a candle, for he had no fire. Now the elder [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]son came in to him, and the man gave him water to drink, for he had [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]no bread; and wagged his head when he was spoken to, for he had no [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]words.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Have you the touchstone of truth?" asked the elder son and when [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the man had wagged his head, "I might have known that," cried the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]elder son. "I have here a wallet full of them!" And with that he [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]laughed, although his heart was weary.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]And with that the man laughed too, and with the fuff of his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]laughter the candle went out.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Sleep," said the man, "for now I think you have come far enough; [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and your quest is ended, and my candle is out."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Now when the morning came, the man gave him a clear pebble in his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]hand, and it had no beauty and no colour; and the elder son looked [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]upon it scornfully and shook his head; and he went away, for it [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]seemed a small affair to him.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]All that day he rode, and his mind was quiet, and the desire of the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]chase allayed. "How if this poor pebble be the touchstone, after [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]all?" said he: and he got down from his horse, and emptied forth [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]his wallet by the side of the way. Now, in the light of each [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]other, all the touchstones lost their hue and fire, and withered [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]like stars at morning; but in the light of the pebble, their beauty [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]remained, only the pebble was the most bright. And the elder son [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]smote upon his brow. "How if this be the truth?" he cried, "that [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]all are a little true?" And he took the pebble, and turned its [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]light upon the heavens, and they deepened about him like the pit; [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and he turned it on the hills, and the hills were cold and rugged, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]but life ran in their sides so that his own life bounded; and he [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]turned it on the dust, and he beheld the dust with joy and terror; [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and he turned it on himself, and kneeled down and prayed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Now, thanks be to God," said the elder son, "I have found the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]touchstone; and now I may turn my reins, and ride home to the King [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and to the maid of the dun that makes my mouth to sing and my heart [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]enlarge."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Now when he came to the dun, he saw children playing by the gate [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]where the King had met him in the old days; and this stayed his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]pleasure, for he thought in his heart, "It is here my children [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]should be playing". And when he came into the hall, there was his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]brother on the high seat and the maid beside him; and at that his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]anger rose, for he thought in his heart, "It is I that should be [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]sitting there, and the maid beside me".[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Who are you?" said his brother. "And what make you in the dun?"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"I am your elder brother," he replied. "And I am come to marry the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]maid, for I have brought the touchstone of truth."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Then the younger brother laughed aloud. "Why," said he, "I found [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the touchstone years ago, and married the maid, and there are our [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]children playing at the gate."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Now at this the elder brother grew as gray as the dawn. "I pray [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]you have dealt justly," said he, "for I perceive my life is lost."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Justly?" quoth the younger brother. "It becomes you ill, that are [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]a restless man and a runagate, to doubt my justice, or the King my [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]father's, that are sedentary folk and known in the land."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Nay," said the elder brother, "you have all else, have patience [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]also; and suffer me to say the world is full of touchstones, and it [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]appears not easily which is true."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"I have no shame of mine," said the younger brother. "There it is, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and look in it."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]So the elder brother looked in the mirror, and he was sore amazed; [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]for he was an old man, and his hair was white upon his head; and he [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]sat down in the hall and wept aloud.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Now," said the younger brother, "see what a fool's part you have [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]played, that ran over all the world to seek what was lying in our [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]father's treasury, and came back an old carle for the dogs to bark [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]at, and without chick or child. And I that was dutiful and wise [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]sit here crowned with virtues and pleasures, and happy in the light [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]of my hearth."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Methinks you have a cruel tongue," said the elder brother; and he [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]pulled out the clear pebble and turned its light on his brother; [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and behold the man was lying, his soul was shrunk into the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]smallness of a pea, and his heart was a bag of little fears like [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]scorpions, and love was dead in his bosom. And at that the elder [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]brother cried out aloud, and turned the light of the pebble on the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]maid, and, lo! she was but a mask of a woman, and withinside's she [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]was quite dead, and she smiled as a clock ticks, and knew not [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]wherefore.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Oh, well," said the elder brother, "I perceive there is both good [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and bad. So fare ye all as well as ye may in the dun; but I will [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]go forth into the world with my pebble in my pocket."[/SIZE]​

​

​

The Interview Question?

An office manager was given the task of hiring an individual to fill a job opening. After sorting through a stack of resumes he found four people who were equally qualified. He decided to call the four in and ask them one question and their answer would determine who would get the job.

The day came and as the four sat around the conference room table, the interviewer asked, “What is the fastest thing you know of?” Pointing to the man on his right.

The first man replied, ‘A thought. It pops into your head. There’s no forewarning that it’s on the way, it’s just there. A thought is the fastest thing I know of.”"That’s very good!” replied the interviewer. “And now you sir?” he asked the second man.”Hmm..let me see, A blink! It comes and goes and you don’t know it ever happened. A blink is the fastest thing I know of.”"Excellent!” said the interviewer. “The blink of an eye. That’s a very popular cliche’ for speed.”

He turned to the third man who was contemplating his reply.”Well, out at my Dad’s ranch, you step out of the house and on the wall there’s a light switch, when you flip that switch, way out across the pasture the light at the barn comes on in an instant. Turning on a light is the fastest thing I can think of.”The interviewer was very impressed with the third answer and thought he had found his man.”It’s hard to beat the speed of light.”he said.

Turning to the fourth man, he posed the question.”After hearing the three previous answers, It’s obvious to me that the fastest thing known is diarrhea.”"What!?” said the interviewer, stunned by the response.”Oh I can explain.” said the fourth man. “You see, the other day I Wasn’t feeling so well and ran for the bathroom. But, before I could think,blink or turn on the light, I’d dirty my pants!”

He got the job!

Moral: To out-smart others in a Job Interview, be creative,innovative & think out of the Box.​

[SIZE=-1]Comte de Lormerin had just finished dressing. He cast a parting [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]glance at the large mirror which occupied an entire panel in his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]dressing-room and smiled.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He was really a fine-looking man still, although quite gray. Tall, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]slight, elegant, with no sign of a paunch, with a small mustache of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]doubtful shade, which might be called fair, he had a walk, a nobility, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]a "chic," in short, that indescribable something which establishes a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]greater difference between two men than would millions of money. He [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]murmured:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Lormerin is still alive!"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And he went into the drawing-room where his correspondence awaited [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]On his table, where everything had its place, the work table of the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]gentleman who never works, there were a dozen letters lying beside [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]three newspapers of different opinions. With a single touch he spread [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]out all these letters, like a gambler giving the choice of a card; and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]he scanned the handwriting, a thing he did each morning before opening [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the envelopes.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]It was for him a moment of delightful expectancy, of inquiry and vague [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]anxiety. What did these sealed mysterious letters bring him? What did [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]they contain of pleasure, of happiness, or of grief? He surveyed them [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]with a rapid sweep of the eye, recognizing the writing, selecting [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]them, making two or three lots, according to what he expected from [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]them. Here, friends; there, persons to whom he was indifferent; [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]further on, strangers. The last kind always gave him a little [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]uneasiness. What did they want from him? What hand had traced those [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]curious characters full of thoughts, promises, or threats?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]This day one letter in particular caught his eye. It was simple, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]nevertheless, without seeming to reveal anything; but he looked at it [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]uneasily, with a sort of chill at his heart. He thought: "From whom [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]can it be? I certainly know this writing, and yet I can't identify [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]it."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He raised it to a level with his face, holding it delicately between [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]two fingers, striving to read through the envelope, without making up [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]his mind to open it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Then he smelled it, and snatched up from the table a little magnifying [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]glass which he used in studying all the niceties of handwriting. He [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]suddenly felt unnerved. "Whom is it from? This hand is familiar to me, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]very familiar. I must have often read its tracings, yes, very often. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]But this must have been a long, long time ago. Whom the deuce can it [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]be from? Pooh! it's only somebody asking for money."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And he tore open the letter. Then he read:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]My Dear Friend: You have, without doubt, forgotten me, for it is now [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]twenty-five years since we saw each other. I was young; I am old. When [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]I bade you farewell, I left Paris in order to follow into the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]provinces my husband, my old husband, whom you used to call "my [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]hospital." Do you remember him? He died five years ago, and now I am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]returning to Paris to get my daughter married, for I have a daughter, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]a beautiful girl of eighteen, whom you have never seen. I informed you [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]of her birth, but you certainly did not pay much attention to so [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]trifling an event.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]You are still the handsome Lormerin; so I have been told. Well if you [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]still recollect little Lise, whom you used to call Lison, come and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]dine with her this evening, with the elderly Baronne de Vance, your [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ever faithful friend, who, with some emotion, although happy, reaches [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]out to you a devoted hand, which you must clasp, but no longer kiss, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]my poor Jaquelet.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Lise de Vance.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Lormerin's heart began to throb. He remained sunk in his armchair with [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the letter on his knees, staring straight before him, overcome by a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]poignant emotion that made the tears mount up to his eyes! If he had [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ever loved a woman in his life it was this one, little Lise, Lise de [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Vance, whom he called "Ashflower," on account of the strange color of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her hair and the pale gray of her eyes. Oh! what a dainty, pretty, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]charming creature she was, this frail baronne, the wife of that gouty, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]pimply baron, who had abruptly carried her off to the provinces, shut [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her up, kept her in seclusion through jealousy, jealousy of the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]handsome Lormerin.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Yes, he had loved her, and he believed that he, too, had been truly [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]loved. She familiarly gave him the name of Jaquelet, and would [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]pronounce that word in a delicious fashion.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]A thousand forgotten memories came back to him, far off and sweet and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]melancholy now. One evening she had called on him on her way home from [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]a ball, and they went for a stroll in the Bois de Boulogne, she in [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]evening dress, he in his dressing-jacket. It was springtime; the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]weather was beautiful. The fragrance from her bodice embalmed the warm [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]air--the odor of her bodice, and perhaps, too, the fragrance of her [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]skin. What a divine night! When they reached the lake, as the moon's [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]rays fell across the branches into the water, she began to weep. A [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]little surprised, he asked her why.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]She replied:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"I don't know. The moon and the water have affected me. Every time I [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]see poetic things I have a tightening at the heart, and I have to [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]cry."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He smiled, affected himself, considering her feminine emotion [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]charming--the unaffected emotion of a poor little woman whom every [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]sensation overwhelms. And he embraced her passionately, stammering:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"My little Lise, you are exquisite."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]What a charming love affair, short-lived and dainty, it had been and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]over all too quickly, cut short in the midst of its ardor by this old [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]brute of a baron, who had carried off his wife, and never let any one [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]see her afterward.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Lormerin had forgotten, in fact, at the end of two or three months. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]One woman drives out another so quickly in Paris, when one is a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]bachelor! No matter; he had kept a little altar for her in his heart, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]for he had loved her alone! He assured himself now that this was so.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He rose, and said aloud: "Certainly, I will go and dine with her this [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]evening!"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And instinctively he turned toward the mirror to inspect himself from [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]head to foot. He reflected: "She must look very old, older than I [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]look." And he felt gratified at the thought of showing himself to her [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]still handsome, still fresh, of astonishing her, perhaps of filling [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her with emotion, and making her regret those bygone days so far, far [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]distant![/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He turned his attention to the other letters. They were of no [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]importance.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]The whole day he kept thinking of this ghost of other days. What was [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]she like now? How strange it was to meet in this way after twenty-five [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]years! But would he recognize her?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He made his toilet with feminine coquetry, put on a white waistcoat, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]which suited him better with the coat than a black one, sent for the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]hairdresser to give him a finishing touch with the curling iron, for [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]he had preserved his hair, and started very early in order to show his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]eagerness to see her.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]The first thing he saw on entering a pretty drawing-room newly [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]furnished was his own portrait, an old faded photograph, dating from [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the days when he was a beau, hanging on the wall in an antique silk [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]frame.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He sat down and waited. A door opened behind him. He rose up abruptly, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]and, turning round, beheld an old woman with white hair who extended [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]both hands toward him.[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE=-1]He seized them, kissed them one after the other several times; then, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lifting up his head, he gazed at the woman he had loved.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Yes, it was an old lady, an old lady whom he did not recognize, and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]who, while she smiled, seemed ready to weep.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He could not abstain from murmuring:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Is it you, Lise?"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]She replied:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Yes, it is I; it is I, indeed. You would not have known me, would [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]you? I have had so much sorrow--so much sorrow. Sorrow has consumed my [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]life. Look at me now--or, rather, don't look at me! But how handsome [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]you have kept--and young! If I had by chance met you in the street I [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]would have exclaimed: 'Jaquelet!' Now, sit down and let us, first of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]all, have a chat. And then I will call my daughter, my grown-up [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]daughter. You'll see how she resembles me--or, rather, how I resembled [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her--no, it is not quite that; she is just like the 'me' of former [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]days--you shall see! But I wanted to be alone with you first. I feared [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]that there would be some emotion on my side, at the first moment. Now [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]it is all over; it is past. Pray be seated, my friend."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He sat down beside her, holding her hand; but he did not know what to [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]say; he did not know this woman--it seemed to him that he had never [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]seen her before. Why had he come to this house? What could he talk [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]about? Of the long ago? What was there in common between him and her? [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]He could no longer recall anything in presence of this grandmotherly [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]face. He could no longer recall all the nice, tender things, so sweet, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]so bitter, that had come to his mind that morning when he thought of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]the other, of little Lise, of the dainty Ashflower. What, then, had [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]become of her, the former one, the one he had loved? That woman of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]far-off dreams, the blonde with gray eyes, the young girl who used to [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]call him "Jaquelet" so prettily?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]They remained side by side, motionless, both constrained, troubled, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]profoundly ill at ease.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]As they talked only commonplaces, awkwardly and spasmodically and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]slowly, she rose and pressed the button of the bell.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"I am going to call Renée," she said.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]There was a tap at the door, then the rustle of a dress; then a young [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]voice exclaimed:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Here I am, mamma!"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Lormerin remained bewildered as at the sight of an apparition.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He stammered:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Good-day, mademoiselle."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Then, turning toward the mother:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Oh! it is you!"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]In fact, it was she, she whom he had known in bygone days, the Lise [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]who had vanished and come back! In her he found the woman he had won [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]twenty-five years before. This one was even younger, fresher, more [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]childlike.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He felt a wild desire to open his arms, to clasp her to his heart [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]again, murmuring in her ear:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Good-morning, Lison!"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]A man-servant announced:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Dinner is ready, madame."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And they proceeded toward the dining-room.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]What passed at this dinner? What did they say to him, and what could [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]he say in reply? He found himself plunged in one of those strange [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]dreams which border on insanity. He gazed at the two women with a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]fixed idea in his mind, a morbid, self-contradictory idea:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Which is the real one?"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]The mother smiled, repeating over and over again:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"Do you remember?" And it was in the bright eyes of the young girl [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]that he found again his memories of the past. Twenty times he opened [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]his mouth to say to her: "Do you remember, Lison?" forgetting this [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]white-haired lady who was looking at him tenderly.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And yet, there were moments when he no longer felt sure, when he lost [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]his head. He could see that the woman of to-day was not exactly the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]woman of long ago. The other one, the former one, had in her voice, in [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]her glances, in her entire being, something which he did not find [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]again. And he made prodigious efforts of mind to recall his lady love, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]to seize again what had escaped from her, what this resuscitated one [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]did not possess.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]The baronne said:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"You have lost your old vivacity, my poor friend."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He murmured:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"There are many other things that I have lost!"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]But in his heart, touched with emotion, he felt his old love springing [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]to life once more, like an awakened wild beast ready to bite him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]The young girl went on chattering, and every now and then some [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]familiar intonation, some expression of her mother's, a certain style [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]of speaking and thinking, that resemblance of mind and manner which [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]people acquire by living together, shook Lormerin from head to foot. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]All these things penetrated him, making the reopened wound of his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]passion bleed anew.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He got away early, and took a turn along the boulevard. But the image [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]of this young girl pursued him, haunted him, quickened his heart, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]inflamed his blood. Apart from the two women, he now saw only one, a [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]young one, the old one come back out of the past, and he loved her as [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]he had loved her in bygone years. He loved her with greater ardor, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]after an interval of twenty-five years.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He went home to reflect on this strange and terrible thing, and to [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]think what he should do.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]But, as he was passing, with a wax candle in his hand, before the [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]glass, the large glass in which he had contemplated himself and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]admired himself before he started, he saw reflected there an elderly, [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]gray-haired man; and suddenly he recollected what he had been in olden [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]days, in the days of little Lise. He saw himself charming and [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]handsome, as he had been when he was loved! Then, drawing the light [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]nearer, he looked at himself more closely, as one inspects a strange [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]thing with a magnifying glass, tracing the wrinkles, discovering those [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]frightful ravages, which he had not perceived till now.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And he sat down, crushed at the sight of himself, at the sight of his [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]lamentable image, murmuring:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]"All over, Lormerin!"[/SIZE]​

The Teacher and CEO debate


<img ismap="ismap" border="0">
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,”What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”
To stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher, Bonnie. Behonest. What do you make?”
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want toke now what I make? (She paused for a second, then began…)
“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.. Keyboarding isn’t everything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain,not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?
His jaw dropped, he went silent.


Moral

Teaching is…the profession that makes* all other professions possible​

[SIZE=-1]Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant’s garden.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. “How happy we are here!” they cried to each other.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“What are you doing here?” he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“My own garden is my own garden,” said the Giant; “any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself.” So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.[/SIZE]

​

[SIZE=-1]TRESPASSERS[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]WILL BE[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]PROSECUTED[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=-1]He was a very selfish Giant.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside. “How happy we were there,” they said to each other.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Then the Spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. “Spring has forgotten this garden,” they cried, “so we will live here all the year round.” The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. “This is a delightful spot,” he said, “we must ask the Hail on a visit.” So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming,” said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; “I hope there will be a change in the weather.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant’s garden she gave none. “He is too selfish,” she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King’s musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement. “I believe the Spring has come at last,” said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and looked out.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]What did he see?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms, and were waving their arms gently above the children’s heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still quite covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. “Climb up! little boy,” said the Tree, and it bent its branches down as low as it could; but the boy was too tiny.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And the Giant’s heart melted as he looked out. “How selfish I have been!” he said; “now I know why the Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children’s playground for ever and ever.” He was really very sorry for what he had done.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant coming. And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant’s neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came running back, and with them came the Spring. “It is your garden now, little children,” said the Giant, and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were going to market at twelve o’clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“But where is your little companion?” he said: “the boy I put into the tree.” The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“We don’t know,” answered the children; “he has gone away.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow,” said the Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before; and the Giant felt very sad.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with the Giant. But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he longed for his first little friend, and often spoke of him. “How I would like to see him!” he used to say.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. He could not play about any more, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. “I have many beautiful flowers,” he said; “but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvellous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, “Who hath dared to wound thee?” For on the palms of the child’s hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“Who hath dared to wound thee?” cried the Giant; “tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“Nay!” answered the child; “but these are the wounds of Love.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]“Who art thou?” said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, “You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms.[/SIZE]​

Does God Exist?!


A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:”I don’t believe that God exists.”
“Why do you say that?” asked the customer. “Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.”The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long,stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barbershop again and he said to the barber:”You know what? Barbers do not exist.”

“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber.”I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!”

“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”
“Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist! That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help.That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”
​

Father: I want you to marry a girl of my choice
Son: "I will choose my own bride!"
Father: "But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter."
Son: "Well, in that case...ok" ​

Next, Father approaches Bill Gates.​

Father: "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Father: "But this young man is a vice-president of ​

the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok" ​

Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.​

Father: "I have a young man to be recommended as ​

a vice-president."
President: "But I already have more vice- presidents ​

than I need!"
Father: "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."
President: "Ah, in that case...ok"​

This is how business is done!!​

Moral: Even If you have nothing, You can get ​

Anything. But your attitude should be positive​

داستان زیبا و کوتاه یک​

پدر: دوست دارم با دختری به انتخاب من ازدواج کنی​

پسر: نه من دوست دارم همسرم را خودم انتخاب کنم ​

پدر: اما دختر مورد نظر من ، دختر بیل گیتس است ​

پسر: آهان اگر اینطور است ، قبول است​

پدر به نزد بیل گیتس می رود و می گوید: ​

پدر: برای دخترت شوهری سراغ دارم ​

بیل گیتس: اما برای دختر من هنوز خیلی زود است که ازدواج کند ​

پدر: اما این مرد جوان قائم مقام مدیرعامل بانک جهانی است ​

بیل گیتس: اوه، که اینطور! در این صورت قبول است​

بالاخره پدر به دیدار مدیرعامل بانک جهانی می رود ​

پدر: مرد جوانی برای سمت قائم مقام مدیرعامل سراغ دارم ​

مدیرعامل: اما من به اندازه کافی معاون دارم! ​

پدر: اما این مرد جوان داماد بیل گیتس است! ​

مدیرعامل: اوه، اگر اینطور است، باشد ​

و معامله به این ترتیب انجام می شود​

نتیجه اخلاقی: حتی اگر چیزی نداشته باشید باز هم می توانید ​

چیزهایی بدست آورید. اما باید روش مثبتی برگزینید.​

​

[SIZE=-1]One evening when Andy Donovan went to dinner at his Second Avenue boarding-house, Mrs. Scott introduced him to a new boarder, a young lady, Miss Conway. Miss Conway was small and unobtrusive. She wore a plain, snuffy-brown dress, and bestowed her interest, which seemed languid, upon her plate. She lifted her diffident eyelids and shot one perspicuous, judicial glance at Mr. Donovan, politely murmured his name, and returned to her mutton. Mr. Donovan bowed with the grace and beaming smile that were rapidly winning for him social, business and political advancement, and erased the snuffy-brown one from the tablets of his consideration.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Two weeks later Andy was sitting on the front steps enjoying his cigar. There was a soft rustle behind and above him, and Andy turned his head—and had his head turned.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Just coming out the door was Miss Conway. She wore a night-black dress of crêpe de—crêpe de—oh, this thin black goods. Her hat was black, and from it drooped and fluttered an ebon veil, filmy as a spider's web. She stood on the top step and drew on black silk gloves. Not a speck of white or a spot of color about her dress anywhere. Her rich golden hair was drawn, with scarcely a ripple, into a shining, smooth knot low on her neck. Her face was plain rather than pretty, but it was now illuminated and made almost beautiful by her large gray eyes that gazed above the houses across the street into the sky with an expression of the most appealing sadness and melancholy.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Gather the idea, girls—all black, you know, with the preference for crêpe de—oh, crêpe de Chine—that's it. All black, and that sad, faraway look, and the hair shining under the black veil (you have to be a blonde, of course), and try to look as if, although your young life had been blighted just as it was about to give a hop-skip-and-a-jump over the threshold of life, a walk in the park might do you good, and be sure to happen out the door at the right moment, and—oh, it'll fetch 'em every time. But it's fierce, now, how cynical I am, ain't it?—to talk about mourning costumes this way.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Mr. Donovan suddenly reinscribed Miss Conway upon the tablets of his consideration. He threw away the remaining inch-and-a-quarter of his cigar, that would have been good for eight minutes yet, and quickly shifted his center of gravity to his low cut patent leathers.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"It's a fine, clear evening, Miss Conway," he said; and if the Weather Bureau could have heard the confident emphasis of his tones it would have hoisted the square white signal, and nailed it to the mast.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"To them that has the heart to enjoy it, it is, Mr. Donovan," said Miss Conway, with a sigh.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Mr. Donovan, in his heart, cursed fair weather. Heartless weather! It should hail and blow and snow to be consonant with the mood of Miss Conway.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"I hope none of your relatives—I hope you haven't sustained a loss?" ventured Mr. Donovan.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Death has claimed," said Miss Conway, hesitating—"not a relative, but one who—but I will not intrude my grief upon you, Mr. Donovan."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Intrude?" protested Mr. Donovan. "Why, say, Miss Conway, I'd be delighted, that is, I'd be sorry—I mean I'm sure nobody could sympathize with you truer than I would."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Miss Conway smiled a little smile. And oh, it was sadder than her expression in repose.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"'Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and they give you the laugh,'" she quoted. "I have learned that, Mr. Donovan. I have no friends or acquaintances in this city. But you have been kind to me. I appreciate it highly."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]He had passed her the pepper twice at the table.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"It's tough to be alone in New York—that's a cinch," said Mr. Donovan. "But, say—whenever this little old town does loosen up and get friendly it goes the limit. Say you took a little stroll in the park, Miss Conway—don't you think it might chase away some of your mullygrubs? And if you'd allow me—"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Thanks, Mr. Donovan. I'd be pleased to accept of your escort if you think the company of one whose heart is filled with gloom could be anyways agreeable to you."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Through the open gates of the iron-railed, old, downtown park, where the elect once took the air, they strolled, and found a quiet bench.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]There is this difference between the grief of youth and that of old age: youth's burden is lightened by as much of it as another shares; old age may give and give, but the sorrow remains the same.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"He was my fiance," confided Miss Conway, at the end of an hour. "We were going to be married next spring. I don't want you to think that I am stringing you, Mr. Donovan, but he was a real Count. He had an estate and a castle in Italy. Count Fernando Mazzini was his name. I never saw the beat of him for elegance. Papa objected, of course, and once we eloped, but papa overtook us, and took us back. I thought sure papa and Fernando would fight a duel. Papa has a livery business—in P'kipsee, you know."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Finally, papa came 'round, all right, and said we might be married next spring. Fernando showed him proofs of his title and wealth, and then went over to Italy to get the castle fixed up for us. Papa's very proud, and when Fernando wanted to give me several thousand dollars for my trousseau he called him down something awful. He wouldn't even let me take a ring or any presents from him. And when Fernando sailed I came to the city and got a position as cashier in a candy store."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"Three days ago I got a letter from Italy, forwarded from P'kipsee, saying that Fernando had been killed in a gondola accident."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"That is why I am in mourning. My heart, Mr. Donovan, will remain forever in his grave. I guess I am poor company, Mr. Donovan, but I cannot take any interest in no one. I should not care to keep you from gayety and your friends who can smile and entertain you. Perhaps you would prefer to walk back to the house?"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Now, girls, if you want to observe a young man hustle out after a pick and shovel, just tell him that your heart is in some other fellow's grave. Young men are grave-robbers by nature. Ask any widow. Something must be done to restore that missing organ to weeping angels in crêpe de Chine. Dead men certainly get the worst of it from all sides.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"I'm awfully sorry," said Mr. Donovan, gently. "No, we won't walk back to the house just yet. And don't say you haven't no friends in this city, Miss Conway. I'm awful sorry, and I want you to believe I'm your friend, and that I'm awful sorry."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"I've got his picture here in my locket," said Miss Conway, after wiping her eyes with her handkerchief. "I never showed it to anybody; but I will to you, Mr. Donovan, because I believe you to be a true friend."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Mr. Donovan gazed long and with much interest at the photograph in the locket that Miss Conway opened for him. The face of Count Mazzini was one to command interest. It was a smooth, intelligent, bright, almost a handsome face—the face of a strong, cheerful man who might well be a leader among his fellows.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"I have a larger one, framed, in my room," said Miss Conway. "When we return I will show you that. They are all I have to remind me of Fernando. But he ever will be present in my heart, that's a sure thing."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]A subtle task confronted Mr. Donovan,—that of supplanting the unfortunate Count in the heart of Miss Conway. This his admiration for her determined him to do. But the magnitude of the undertaking did not seem to weigh upon his spirits. The sympathetic but cheerful friend was the rôle he essayed; and he played it so successfully that the next half-hour found them conversing pensively across two plates of ice-cream, though yet there was no diminution of the sadness in Miss Conway's large gray eyes.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Before they parted in the hall that evening she ran upstairs and brought down the framed photograph wrapped lovingly in a white silk scarf. Mr. Donovan surveyed it with inscrutable eyes.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"He gave me this the night he left for Italy," said Miss Conway. "I had the one for the locket made from this."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]"A fine-looking man," said Mr. Donovan, heartily. "How would it suit you, Miss Conway, to give me the pleasure of your company to Coney next Sunday afternoon?"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]A month later they announced their engagement to Mrs. Scott and the other boarders. Miss Conway continued to wear black.[/SIZE]​