Many lanterns were given to the temple and a rich man gave a thousand large ones.
“All men shall see that I am of a generous heart,” he said proudly to himself.
“SHE WENT TO THE TEMPLE AND PRAYED MUCH”
The poor woman was grieved at heart.
“I have nothing to give,” she said. “The gods would accept nothing that I have.” She looked carefully over her poor little house, but alas! There was nothing any one would buy. She had only the barest necessaries and these much worn and used for many years.
At last she bethought herself that she still possessed one thing which she might sell. Her hair was yet long and black. It might not bring much, but it would be worth something.
“I am too old to marry, no one cares how I look,” she said, smiling to herself. “I will sell my hair to make a temple offering.”
So she sold it for a small sum, which happily she found was enough to buy one little temple light. This she joyfully placed upon the shrine.
How tiny it looked beside the rich man’s great ones! Yet its light seemed to her to warm her old heart into fresher life, and she was happy.