What do we Seek?

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

What do we Seek?

Two travellers met one night in a wood, each coming from a different way, one from the north, and the other from the south. And as it seemed to both men. that they had been alone many days in the wood, they were glad at their meeting. .

The first traveller was a man grown fleshy with too good food, wealth, and ease. He had clad himself in much clothing for his travels, for fear of the ills that might assail him, knowing his life’s stream to be not pure through his living; and he was leading a beast which carried ti burden of utensils, and warm furs, and comforts, that he might soften a little for himself the rigours of his journey. And behind his eyes was a brain that was dull from seeking after one thing. The second man was lean of body. He looked in poverty—as the saying is—his clothes were scant and worn, yet he seemed so because ho had not overmuch time to attend to these things rather than because he could not have provided as handsomely as the other had done for himself.

After the two men had greeted each other, the first traveller looked about. “Have you no other belongings with you than those you carry?” he asked, in surprise. “No, I have no more at all of such as these which you call belongings,” answered the traveller.

. “Ah, then you must be my guest for the night, and I will treat you well; 1 carry such that will' warm your heart, stranger,” and he set about busily opening his packs to prepare a camp for the night, eager to show his goods and to open the eyes of the other. And the other stood by him and smiled. With all his poorness, he sfeemed to have much. But this the other did not discern. After they had lighted a fire to keep the prowling beasts away, and had eaten a good supper of the man’s luxuries, he, being at his ease before the fire, lay back, knowing that the flames kept animals of prey from him. But the second traveller, accustomed as he -was since boyhood days to guard himself with the aids he possessed himself, sat cross-legged and his strange bright eyes remained looking over the fire with vigilance.

(By Celia Fraser)

“I wish, my friend,” said he unhurried; "that you would tell me of your travels, and why. I have found you here; then I will tell you of myself, and we will have confidence together.” “Of course,” was the reply, and after he had moved restlessly back and forth, as if the forced lying still until the dawn now agitated him and the terrors of the night were also known, he at last began. He said with excitement:

“I have been travelling a long time, so long that I am in danger of forgetting my rich home, and my servants and all that I own. Many men would have set out with me, but I refused company and U-avelled away alone. Why? Because I am searching for -a lost mine, in which, it is said, are diamonds of fabulous worth. • I would find it alone, lest my companions demanded a share. That is my story. Now tell me yours. What do you own? What is your wealth? I must admit, my friend, that ypu puzzle me.” "I own nothing.” replied the second traveller. “I have no fine home nor ivory screens and marble

floors as you have. All that I have is my courage and strength, and what was given me at birth as is given to every man. I, too. am seeking. But no one desired to come with me, for I have nothing, and what I seek is nothing, to you." Then he smiled with a certain wistfulness over- the fire to his new friend. The friend lay greatly puzzled, for he felt something about the man which he could not understand; it seemed to emanate from him and enfold the camp. He leaned over suddenly. “What is it you seek?”

“My father was a strange man. and poor. He could give me nothing in the way that you have given to your sons. Perhaps that is why I grew up a strange youth. These things I had never had, and I never desired them. My old father had no fear.” His smile the other could not interpret. “But I rejoiced in what I did have—courage, and the lean strength of my limbs. I have fought the cold and heat. I have loved the rain and wind, and the sun, the feathered things, and animals, and men whom I have befriended. Perhaps I have been vapi over the triumphs. I have made over

myself, those over pain, hardship, hunger, and despair. And as it is the-common lot of men to have one great desire in life, I, too, - started on my travels, searching for something.” “And then?”

The traveller smiled. Great contentment appeared to steal over his face at the thought. “I shall have found life,” he replied. “And after that?”

“I should give it to you.” The other man regarded . him. What, a strange fellow to have met! He sighed, and suggesting they sleep, he wrapped himself in hi> furs and lay down by the Are. But the strange man sat' on alone for a time, looking up through the branches of the trees to the dark night sky. Then with his back to the bole of a tree he slept like a child sleeping for the first time. , When the- wood was once more alive with strips of sunlight, singing of birds, and noises of animals in the undergrowth, the two travellers parted each to go his own way •once more.'

. “When shall' I see you again?” said the first.

“I cannot say; when shall 1 see your -

"Well, really.” the other laugh*! • “I cannot say.” j j "But assuredly we will meet. ■;> then in all truth jye may corn?* 5 ; our two fortunes! Good-bye. . J “Good-bye,” and the rich | went off in his "haste, wornedjy the thought that some other might light on the diamond mw® first, while the strange man on, poor and with nothing at » except his courage and with which he hoped to make ni®r,. self the possessor of life. a

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