The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-10
q. BY y.
COUNT / 80 TOL STOY.

wood, Tle man held Ills stomucl, with
his llhiids, but blood WIS flowing from
under them, NJ Zen he reached tt,a kihE
tho lcafsled man fell falntlng on tho
ground and only moaning recbly rho
King and tho hormit unfnstencd the
i1iuiia clothing. There WIS Il large wot,rd
In his stolnucli. Thc King wished ltns bcst
hs could ana bnndnRed 1t With his hand
kbrGhicr, ind With The hnrinlts towel.
But I t bloUd would not stop flowing, ana
tho King again removed tho bnhdngc.
tonkcl with warm blood. and washed
and rebntdngcd tho wound. When tho
Blood ut Inst. ceased To low. tho man
revived and asked for soncthlnE to
drink. 'rhet King brought fresh water
and Envn II TO him.
Meanwhile the sun had Quito set. ana
1t grew cool SO the King, with tho
hermit's help, carried tho wounded man
Into tho hut and laid him on tho bed
Lying on the bed, THO man closed his
eyes ANA was quiet l3ut the King was
80 tired with his walk and with the
work lie Ind done, that lie crouchcd down
on the threshold and also fell asleep st,
kou,dy that no slept all through the
short summer night
When hD nwOkD III the morning It wnA
Tong before he could make out where no
wus. or who was that strange bearded
rnur lying Oh the bed and gazing intently
ut him with gllttcrlng eyes.
"t'trglve mel" said tho bearded man III
wcnk voice when he saw that tho
King was awake and looking Mt him.
~ do not know you, and have nothing
TO forgive you for" sud tho KIM.
"Yo,i do not know me, but know you.
/ um that enemy OF yours who sworc TO
revenge himsolf on you. because you cx-
ec,heu my brother and seized my prop
crty | knew you had goite alone to see
the hermit, and resolved to XII you on
your way buck. but the day passed and
you die not return. So came out from
my ambush to find out where you were.
ard I came upon your body-guard. anu
they recognized me uiid wounded me.
/ ran away from them, but should have
bleI to death had you not dressed my
wound. Il wished TO kill. you. and YOU,
have saved my life. Now, II live, anu
IL you wish II. ! will serve you us your
most faithful slave. and bid my sons do
the same. Forgive me!'
The King was very glad TO have made
neh c.. with his enemy so easily. and not
olly forguva him. but said ne would send
h,a servants and his own physician 10
attend him, and promised to restore his
property
Having taken leave OF tho wounded
man. tho King went on: into tho porch
u:,, looked round for the hermit. Bcroru
going away lie wished once more to ask
FOR in answer to the questions he had
put. Tho hermit was outside on his
knees, sowing vegetable seeds IN the pcus
thnt had been dug before.
TIE King approached him and said
..l,or the last time, l beg you to an
sw or my questions. wise man.
aF.,NVGy, you have been answered.. said Y
Tho hermit, crouchIng on his thin legs
and looking up at the King, who stood
before him.
"Answerel? What do You mean?" ask
cd the King.
.Why, or course" replied the hermit.
III you had not p!tied my weakness yes
tcrday, and had not dug these beds Tor
me. hui had gone back alone. that man
there would have attacked you and
you would have pented not hay
ing stayed with me. So tho most
Important time was when you were
digging the beds; and & was tho
most Important man; and to do me
good wns your most important business.
Afterwards when that man ran 10 vs.
the most important time was when YOU
were attending TO him. for. he would
have died without having I1.de peace
with you. So he was the most Important
map;annd what you did for him was
your most important business. Remem-
Der then, there IS only ono time that ~
important-now. 1t Is the most impor-
tant time. because It Is the only tlme
when we have any power. The most nee
esgary man is-he with whom you now
are. for no man knows whether ne VII
ever have dealings with anyone else.
Ana the most important affair is-to 40
him good. because for that purpose alone
vas man sent into this life. ;"
~ August. o. s.. 1908.