58 GOLDEN DAYS 



the door was broken. Old Gaffer Misery 

 was crouching by the empty hearth, but 

 when he saw the two bedraggled way- 

 farers he staggered to his feet, murmuring 

 words of welcome. " Sit down, good 

 friends," said he, " the while I light these 

 bits of charred drift-wood to give us 

 warmth and dry your clothing." The 

 two saints sat in the firelight, while the 

 old man busied himself about their needs. 

 Going at length to a broken cupboard, 

 from which he took his sole store of food, 

 some few crusts of black bread, these he 

 laid before the strangers. 



"When the charred wood had burnt out 

 and the bread was all eaten, St. Peter 

 said to Misei'y : " Thou art a good man ; 

 thou hast given us all. Thy charity is 

 real, for it was given for the love of God. 

 May thy faith equal thy charity. Ask 

 what thou most desirest. It shall be 

 granted thee." At these words Misery 

 realised that he was in the presence of the 

 saints. He fell on his knees before them. 

 " Oh, most holy ones !" he said, " I have 

 but a single possession, and that is an 

 apple-tree — one little apple-tree — yet 



