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THE PRISONER'S ORDEAL

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 5, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 10.

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THE PRISONER'S ORDEAL.

The story is told that a king's son who was taken prisoner, was to be released on condition that he submit to being led at the hour of noon through the streets of the city.
“O!” said the young man, “how can I bear to see the mockings of the people?”
“You do not yet know how you will be led,” answered the king.
When the hour arrived, he gave him a vessel filled to the brim with milk to carry, saying that as soon as he spilled a drop he must die. Close behind him walked the executioner, dagger in hand, ready to carry out the terrible penalty.
From far and near the people had gathered to behold the prisoner upon his perilous journey. The streets were lined, and windows and even the roofs were crowded with spectators. When the young man had passed through the terrible ordeal, the king beckoned to him and said:—
“Well, what kind of faces did the people make?”
“O king,” said the youth, “I saw not one! I only saw my life in my hands, and death behind me.”
“Thus,” replied the king, “walk through life.”
The lesson is a good one; we should not go through life all the while thinking, “What will folks say?” “How will it look?” and the like. Let us be like this youth. Let us not look around, but, taking care to ourselves, see that we walk very carefully, ever heeding the divine Voice that says, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”—Selected.