"How do you know that?" said Iddo.
"In the Guide Book we read about one of the armies of the Lord going to meet a strong enemy. And it says when the Lord's soldiers began to sing the enemy was smitten."
"And what is your other reason?"
"My other reason is that I feel I have done so much harm by my gloominess. A lot of young people whom I might have helped have run away when they have seen me coming, just because I felt it my duty to pick holes in them and to be stern, and to judge them. Now if they had found me singing, who knows but they might have been helped on their journey. Every young thing likes music and merriment. And then there is a third reason which I forgot and which is more important even than the others."
"What is that?" asked Iddo.
"Because a Master is judged by his servants, and a King by his subjects. And if they see that the soldiers and servants of the Great King of the Radiant City are cheerful and happy, they naturally think it must be the service of the King that makes them so. Child," he added, "I feel ashamed when I think of what people must have thought of my King, when they heard my censorious words and looked at my gloomy, angry face. I, of all His servants, ought to rejoice."
"Why, Mr. Chisleu?" asked Iddo.
"Why? Because He has done great things for me. I have done so much harm on the road, made so many mistakes, even once went so far as to doubt His love, thinking He had forgotten me, while all the time He was looking down upon me in love and tenderness, and sent my good friend Amer at last to persuade me of this. I, of all men, should be full of joy and thankfulness."
"And do you think," said Iddo, "that I ought to learn to sing?"
"Aye! sure enough you should. Have you nothing to be thankful for?" Even as he spoke, a little enemy crept out of the grass at his feet and looked at him.