Delaying is not forgetting 藏着并不等于遗忘

DELAYINGISNOTFORGETTING藏着并不等于遗忘

THEREwasanoldmansionsurroundedbyamarshyditchwithadrawbridgewhichwasbutseldomletdown:-notallguestsaregoodpeople.Undertheroofwereloopholestoshootthrough,andtopourdownboilingwaterorevenmoltenleadontheenemy,shouldheapproach.Insidethehousetheroomswereveryhighandhadceilingsofbeams,andthatwasveryusefulconsideringthegreatdealofsmokewhichroseupfromthechimneyfirewherethelarge,damplogsofwoodsmouldered.Onthewallshungpicturesofknightsinarmourandproudladiesingorgeousdresses;themoststatelyofallwalkedaboutalive.ShewascalledMetaMogen;shewasthemistressofthehouse,toherbelongedthecastle.
Towardstheeveningrobberscame;theykilledthreeofherpeopleandalsotheyard-dog,andattachedMrs.Metatothekennelbythechain,whiletheythemselvesmadegoodcheerinthehallanddrankthewineandthegoodaleoutofhercellar.Mrs.Metawasnowonthechain,shecouldnotevenbark.
Butlo!theservantofoneoftherobberssecretlyapproachedher;theymustnotseeit,otherwisetheywouldhavekilledhim.
"Mrs.MetaMogen,"saidthefellow,"doyoustillrememberhowmyfather,whenyourhusbandwasstillalive,hadtorideonthewoodenhorse?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!"
Aweekhaspassed;thismorninghisdeathwasinthenewspaper,thatisthereasonofthegirl’smourning!Heroldsweetheartisdeadandhasleftawifeandthreestep-children,asthepapersays;itsoundsasifthereisacrack,butthemetalispure.
Theblackbowsignifiesmourning,thegirl’sfacepointstothesameinastillhigherdegree;itispreservedintheheartandwillneverbeforgotten.Delayingisnotforgetting!
Thesearethreestoriesyousee,threeleavesonthesamestalk.Doyouwishforsomemoretrefoilleaves?Inthelittleheartbookaremanymoreofthem.Delayingisnotforgetting!

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