youprayedforhim,butitwasnogood,hewastorideuntilhislimbswereparalysed;butyoustoledowntohim,asistealnowtoyou,youyourselfputlittlestonesundereachofhisfeetthathemighthavesupport,nobodysawit,ortheypretendednottoseeit,foryouwerethentheyounggraciousmistress.myfatherhastoldmethis,andihavenotforgottenit!nowiwillfreeyou,mrs.metamogen!"

thentheypulledthehorsesoutofthestableandrodeoffinrainandwindtoobtaintheassistanceoffriends.

"thusthesmallservicedonetotheoldmanwasrichlyrewarded!"saidmetamogen.

"delayingisnotforgetting,"saidthefellow.

therobberswerehanged.

therewasanoldmansion,itisstillthere;itdidnotbelongtomrs.metamogen,itbelongedtoanotheroldnoblefamily.

wearenowinthepresenttime.thesunisshiningonthegiltknobofthetower,littlewoodedislandslielikebouquetsonthewater,andwildswansareswimmingroundthem.inthegardengrowroses;themistressofthehouseisherselfthefinestrosepetal,shebeamswithjoy,thejoyofgooddeeds:however,notdoneinthewideworld,butinherheart,andwhatispreservedthereisnotforgotten.delayingisnotforgetting!

nowshegoesfromthemansiontoalittlepeasanthutinthefield.thereinlivesapoorparalysedgirl;thewindowofherlittleroomlooksnorthward,thesundoesnotenterhere.thegirlcanonlyseeasmallpieceoffieldwhichissurroundedbyahighfence.butto-daythesunshineshere-thewarm,beautifulsunofgodiswithinthelittleroom;itcomesfromthesouththroughthenewwindow,whereformerlythewallwas.

theparalysedgirlsitsinthewarmsunshineandcanseethewoodandthelake;theworldhadbecomesolarge,sobeautiful,andonlythroughasinglewordfromthekindmistressofthemansion.

"thewordwassoeasy,thedeedsosmall,"shesaid,"thejoyitaffordedmewasinfinitelygreatandsweet!"

andthereforeshedoesmanyagooddeed,thinksofallinthehumblecottagesandintherichmansions,wheretherearealsoafflictedones.itisconcealedandhidden,butgoddoesnotforgetit.delayedisnotforgotten!

anoldhousestoodthere;itwasinthelargetownwithitsbusytraffic.thereareroomsandhallsinit,butwedonotenterthem,weremaininthekitchen,whereitiswarmandlight,cleanandtidy;thecopperutensilsareshining,thetableasifpolishedwithbeeswax;thesinklookslikeafreshlyscouredmeatboard.allthisasingleservanthasdone,andyetshehastimetospareasifshewishedtogotochurch;shewearsabowonhercap,ablackbow,thatsignifiesmourning.butshehasnoonetomourn,neitherfathernormother,neitherrelationsnorsweetheart.sheisapoorgirl.onedayshewasengagedtoapoorfellow;theylovedeachotherdearly.

onedayhecametoherandsaid:

"webothhavenothing!therichwidowoverthewayinthebasementhasmadeadvancestome;shewillmakemerich,butyouareinmyheart;whatdoyouadvisemetodo?"

"iadviseyoutodowhatyouthinkwillturnouttoyourhappiness,"saidthegirl."bekindandgoodtoher,butrememberthis;fromthehourwepartweshallneverseeeachotheragain."

yearspassed;thenonedayshemettheoldfriendandsweetheartinthestreet;helookedillandmiserable,andshecouldnothelpaskinghim,"howareyou?"

"richandprosperingineveryrespect,"hesaid;"thewomanisbraveandgood,butyouareinmyheart.ihavefoughtthebattle,itwillsoonbeended;weshallnotseeeachotheragainnowuntilwemeetbeforegod!"