Yes’m
we finally did make it to the barn, although I am afraid our shoes, and even
our garments, will never be as gorgeous as before. Mr. Kerosene Lamp beamed
kindly down at us and asked, “Are you lost, girls? May I help you with
anything?”
Close
up he looked so big and handsome that both of us were smitten with shyness.
Finally Anastasia said, “We just wanted to look at the lamps.”
“Go
right ahead. You will find them busy as work all over the place.”
And sure enough we did. The barn
was unadorned; far less attractive, aesthetically speaking, than our mansion, but there was homeliness about it that I had never sensed in the
coldly elegant house were we dwelt. All the lamps were busy at work; some were assisting
dairy maidens, or those that were feeding chickens, one was needed to help a
farm boy who was feeding some squealing, grunting piglets Another one lit up
the area where a suckling lamb was being bottle fed. I notice one smudgy lamp
was even beside a flaxen haired girl who held a lapful of kittens while the
mother was enjoying a bowl of milk nearby.
“They
are all so useful,” I murmured, trying to swallow the lump in my throat, “and
so beautiful. There is such a cheery and comforting glow surrounding each one
of them.”
Anastasia
agreed. “Isn’t it marvelous how far one light can penetrate the darkness? “
I
nodded. “Yes, but look at the far distant corners where the shadows like thick
and deep—“
“There
is not enough light,” we chorused tremulously.
We
both fell silent while gazing at the active workers. “The lamps can hardly be
seen,” Anastasia murmured.
“Because
the light is so radiant.” I sighed.
“Without
their lights they would be quite ordinary and without value,” Anastasia added
in a low voice, although no one was paying any attention to us.
“And
to think I thought my apparel was so glorious.
It is pathetic compared to the glow within those unpretentious lamps.”
It
felt like something broke within me. “I would far rather be plain and ordinary
on the outside and useful then be just an ornament to gaze at once in a while.”
Anastasia
nodded mutely.
It
seemed like all the lamps were finished their jobs at the same time and
clustered in the center aisle in preparation to leave for the night. I was
thrilled with how wonderful the glow just in front of me was.
Not
wanting to be left in the dark, we slipped in with them, but I didn’t feel like
talking.
For
the first time in my young life I realized the importance of fire. In the house
we didn’t feel needed because of all the artificial light, but out here in the
darkness the flames were of great value. I wanted to get converted and just be
a lamp for the Master to use.
There
are those who are suffering from lack of vision, physically, also. Right now
donations are being solicited for blind children. I suppose suffering young’uns
touches a soft spot in all our hearts. If you want to know more about the
people here in Canada who are trying to help them, go to:
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