"With a smile she motioned him to a place on her left.
"The next that appeared as her suitor, said, 'Dear lady, I have a beautiful home and all it needs is thee, and shouldst thou see fit to become my bride, you will be a happy and a joyous mother, and in the love of each other, and in our home, and in our children, will our happiness be found. Dearest lady, become my bride and thou shalt be the head of the happiest home in the land.'
"She smiled and motioned him to a seat on her left.
"The next suitor that came forward was attired in rich cloth trimmed with lace and gold.
"He said, 'Most charming lady, I am a Prince, and if thou wilt become my bride, I will make thee a Princess. Thou shall have a lovely court, many servants, costly robes to wear, and millions of people to worship thee, and do thee homage.'
"She smiled and motioned him to a seat on her left.
"Other suitors made offers to her. The last suitor that appeared before the sweet lady was different from all the rest. He was dressed plainly; he needed nothing to improve his natural appearance, for his majestic form, his noble countenance and lustrous eyes, surpassed in attractiveness all the other suitors. When you once saw him you felt as if you wished to take another look at him, for it seemed to do one's eyes good to feast them on so grand a man.
"He said, 'Thou pure, sweet one. When a youth I was wandering through a forest and saw a man sitting under a tree. He had a sweeter countenance than I had ever seen before. He said, "My youthful friend, if thou wilt learn from me thou shalt become good, wise and very happy."
"'I thought of my companions and myself in regard to what he said, and the more I thought about us all, I could not think of one that was becoming good and wise, or was truly happy. For we were all restless, going here, and going there, trying this and doing the other to find happiness. So I thanked him and said, I will be thy pupil, for I wish to become good, wise and truly happy. He said, "Commence to-morrow morning, and as soon as you awake rise immediately; never lay after you are awake, for it is not good for one of your age. Then when you rise bathe in cold water. After you have dressed," he said, "read out of this book which I give you; read every morning for fifteen minutes or half an hour; then spend a little time in prayer and meditation." And he gave me instructions in such and said, "Live on plain food, eat no meat, avoid bad companions as you would a Bengal tiger, and before going to rest at night spend half an hour in prayer and meditation. Continue faithfully in the performance of these practices for three months, and then come here to me." I did so, carrying them out to the letter, and at the end of three months I returned to him. He looked at me and said, "I see by your countenance you have changed." I replied, "Yes, I feel changed altogether." "Tell me," he said, "in what way do you feel different?"
"'I said, "When you saw me three months ago my mind was confused more or less, my imagination ran too much after vain and sensuous objects. I had too much personal sensitiveness, being attached to myself so much. I was easily irritated, and always restless, wanting something I did not have. But now my mind is calm and peaceful, my imagination dwells on the pure, the good and the beautiful. I no longer feel envious or jealous or greedy; for love seems to be taking the place of those feelings."