“It’s all from the bad company that he gets into,” said the widow, taking off her spectacles and wiping the glasses. “He is a good lad at heart, sir; but you see as how he has no firmness—he can’t say No. Harry intends to do well one hour, and forgets all[41] about it the next; but I’ll be bound you’ll see him at school and at church too, some day or other.”
“He knows not how long he may have the opportunity of doing either. Remember, Harry, the fate of your young companion, Sam Porter, hurried in one instant into eternity—not one moment given him to repent3, to call on his Saviour4!—all his opportunities past for ever!”
Harry sighed and looked down.
“Well, my boy,” said Thorn, more cheerfully, “if you have made good resolutions and broken them a hundred times, try again; try with faith and prayer, and God may give you the victory yet! I heard a little allegory to-day. I thought that it might interest, and perhaps benefit you; so, as it is too dark at present for reading, I will repeat it to you, if Mrs. Brown would like to hear it.”
“I am quite agreeable,” said the old woman, leaning back in her arm-chair.
“What is an allegory?” inquired Harry.
“Real truths shown in fiction. You will understand better what an allegory is when[42] you have listened to this. It is called the story of
“A young boy entered a beautiful garden, which extended as far as the eye could reach. Through the whole length of it stretched a narrow avenue, bordered with overhanging trees. Slowly the boy pursued his way along it, listening to the songs of the birds, and admiring the green foliage6 above him, through which, here and there, streamed the rays of the glorious sun. He quickly perceived that he was not alone; on either side, all down the long avenue, stood a line of maidens8, beautiful to behold9. They were all robed in white, with wreaths of fresh flowers on their heads, and greeted the boy with a bright smile of welcome. Each held in her right hand a vase of gold, in her left a sharp iron dart.”
“I do not understand this allegory at all,” said Harry. “Did any one ever see such maidens as these?”
“These maidens,” replied Thorn, “are well known to all—they are called Opportunities.[43] Who has not met with opportunities of doing good, opportunities of receiving good?”
THE ROWS OF MAIDENS.
“I see, sir. Pray go on.”
“As the boy approached the first maiden7, she held out her vase to him, and invited him to take the contents. On the golden vase appeared the word Prayer, and the sweetest, fairest fruits were heaped up within[44] it; but the boy scarcely glanced at the proffered10 gift. ‘It is wearisome!’ he cried; so pushed it aside and passed on.”
“Opportunity for prayer!” cried old Mrs. Brown. “Ah, sir, who can count how many times we have pushed that away from us! God forgive us!”
“The boy sauntered on,” resumed Willy Thorn, “and soon another fair maiden stood before him: she also held forth11 a vase of bright gold, full of pieces of glittering silver. On it was inscribed12 the word Knowledge.”
“Here is the opportunity of gaining learning at school,” said Mrs. Brown, who was an intelligent old woman, and had read a good deal in her youth.
“But the boy scarcely glanced at the proffered gift. ‘It is troublesome!’ he cried; so pushed it aside and passed on.
“A short space further on another maiden stopped him, with a bright and joyous13 countenance. Her gold vase contained the loveliest flowers, and on it appeared written, Acts of Kindness to others. The boy looked at it wistfully for a moment, tempted14 by the sweet perfume of the beautiful blossoms.[45] Opportunity smiled, but selfishness stayed the hand of the boy, half stretched out to empty the vase: he pushed it aside and passed on.
“The next maiden who greeted him was calm and fair, with a grave and earnest look. Her vase was full of refined gold, and this was the motto which it bore: Attendance at the House of God. A sound of church-bells came on the breeze, and the sweet music of a distant hymn15; but in vain they fell on the boy’s listening ear. ‘It is dull!’ he cried; pushed the rich vase aside, and passed on.”
“But you said, sir,” observed Harry, “that the maidens held darts16 in their left hands, as well as vases in their right. What do you mean by them?”
“You shall hear before I end my story. So the boy reached another maiden, who looked like an angel from heaven. Her eyes shone like stars in the calm blue sky, and the tones of her voice thrilled deep into the heart. Her vase was overflowing17 with sparkling jewels, brighter than those which monarchs18 wear. On it shone in glittering letters, The Word of God.”
[46]
“Oh, I hope that he put out his hand and took that!” cried the aged19 woman, resting hers on her Bible.
“Opportunity cried, ‘Oh, pass me not by! Search the Scriptures20, that can make you wise unto salvation21.’ She held forth her vase with imploring22 look, but the boy was intent on pursuing his way. ‘I care not for it!’ he cried; so pushed it aside and passed on.”
“Well, he might have the same opportunity of reading the Bible again and again,” said Harry.
“Not the same,” replied Willy Thorn; “the boy could not retrace23 one step of his way. No moment of time can ever be recalled. Every opportunity of doing good once past, whatever others may arise, that opportunity is past for ever!
“‘I shall meet with more maidens,’ said the boy. ‘I see an endless number before me; doubtless they carry vases as precious as those which I have rejected.’ But even as he spoke24 the words, he came suddenly on a black iron gate, and he could pass on no further. Shuddering25, he read on the gate the solemn word, Death!
[47]
“Then would he gladly have turned round: then would he have earnestly asked for one more opportunity for prayer—one more opportunity of doing what is right; but the last had been passed—he had slighted the treasure of the last! Nor can we despise opportunities, and not suffer for doing so; if they offer the vase, they also carry the punishment meet for those who neglect its contents. As the boy stood trembling at the gate of Death, a dart came hissing26 through the air, and inflicted27 on him a burning wound: then came another and another; every opportunity despised sent its messenger of vengeance28, and the wretched boy, writhing29 with the arrows of conscience in his soul, sank down at the gate, and perished!”
“Alas!” cried Harry, “where can I then find safety, for I have neglected more opportunities than I can number of doing good and receiving good?”
“Ask the Lord for pardon through the blood of the Saviour!” exclaimed Thorn. “‘Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation;’ neglect not this[48] opportunity—it may be your last! O my young friend! no day leaves you as it found you; every day brings its opportunities of prayer, praise, reading the Bible, and obeying God’s laws; every day you have chosen either the vase or the dart.”
Dear reader, to you would I address a few words. If this little story has raised the thought in your heart, “How have I improved my opportunities?” oh, push it not aside and pass on! Let not the day close without prayer; seize the golden prize while yet it is offered to you, or hope not to escape the dart!
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1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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