“That’s just the way the fairy stories begin,” exclaimed Flora, clapping her hands with delight.
“Well, my child, you must not interrupt me, or I shall not get along very fast. ‘Once upon a time, there was a young man whose name was Seekpeace. His parents had taken great care in bringing him up, and stored his mind with good lessons to guide and protect him in the hour of temptation.
But the parents of Seekpeace were poor people, and could not afford to support their son in idleness, even if they had wished to do so. They had done all they could for him in teaching him to be true to God and true to himself.
One day they called Seekpeace to them, and told him they could not afford to take care of him any longer, and that he must go out into the world and make his own fortune. They hoped he would try to be a wise and good man; and told him that nothing but a pure heart could make him happy either in this world or in the world to come.
Seekpeace was a smart, active young man, and was very willing to go out into the world and take care of himself. So he took a little bundle of clothes, and with staff in hand started off on his journey.
He felt that he was now his own master; and when he started, he wanted to become a great and good man. He promised himself that he would be faithful to the principles which his father and mother had taught him, and that they should never have cause to be ashamed of him.
Seekpeace had not gone far before he met an old man who was dressed in coarse and homely garments. He seemed to be very poor, but his face beamed with smiles.
“What is your name?” inquired Seekpeace.
“My name is Poverty; and I belong to a very large family of that name.”
“Where are you travelling?”