LESSON XVIII. THE WIND AND THE SUN. The wind and the sun once had a quarrel. Each thought he was stronger than the other. They saw a man walking along the road. They agreed to try their strength upon him. The one that should make him take off his coat should be counted the stronger. The wind began. He blew and blew as hard as he could. But the man fastened his coat closer about him, and the wind blew in vain. Then the sun tried. He threw his soft, gentle rays down on the fields and the dusty road. The man walked on. Soon he began to feel very warm. He opened his coat. After a little while, he threw it off and sat down in the shade of a tree to get cool.. So the sun was the winner. Gentle ways always win. Rough ways never win. LESSON XIX. THE BABY. Where did you come from, baby dear? Out of the everywhere into the here. Where did you get your eyes so blue? Out of the sky as I came through. What makes the light in them sparkle and spin? Some of the starry spikes left in. Where did you get that little tear? What makes your forehead so smooth and high? A soft hand stroked it as I went by. What makes your cheek like a warm, white rose? Something better than any one knows. Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss? Three angels gave me at once a kiss. Where did you get that pearly ear? Where did you get those arms and Love made itself into hooks and bands. Feet, whence did you come, you darling things? From the same box as the cherub's wings. How did they all just come to be you? God thought of me, and so I grew. But how did you come to us, you dear? God thought of you, and so I'm here. -GEORGE MACDONALD. |