In another, all the gentle, loving words ever whispered to the animals.
"I prize these highly," said the old woman.
"It is very strange," said she, looking upon the temples, "that I find these precious treasures thrown about very carelessly upon the earth. The children never dream of their worth, and were I not always ready there, some would be lost. But remember, Ruth, none are suffered to be lost; and so, when the children to whom these belong are going into heaven, they shall find there many a treasure they did not dream of possessing. Thus shall the treasures they had forgotten grow brighter and brighter, while others they had perhaps remembered have grown corrupted and vain!"
At these words, Ruth longed to lay many treas
ures in the temples, and she heard a song, which the different tones of the temple formed in the air. It melted her heart with its divine harmony.
"O," cried Ruth "could I but sing such a song to my father! he who loves songs so well. What joy it would be to him!"
"And would you patiently sing the song though he thanked you not?" asked the old woman.
"I desire him only to hear it," replied Ruth; and at that moment the power came to her, and such a song poured from her throat!
She was so enchanted! But, when glancing in the brook, she saw her own figure so lit up with beauty as scarcely to be able to recognize it. The old woman saw her amazement, and replied to it:
"I will send you back to your home that you may sing this song to your father; and remember, little Ruth, that beauty only is worthy to have which proceeds from the sweetness of thy words and the loveliness of thy smile. In heaven thou mayst be as lovely as thou wilt. Send up, then, fit treasures for the temple, and they will be kept safely until thou needest them."