Jewel's Story Book eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 348 pages of information about Jewel's Story Book.

Jewel's Story Book eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 348 pages of information about Jewel's Story Book.

“The more fool you, then, not to take it to the palace,” returned the other.  “It is gaudy enough to have perhaps pleased the princess, and the organ-grinder would have had to get another slave.”

So saying, the officer laughed and carelessly turned away.

Gabriel stood still, choking.  It must be that the princess wished to buy a pet.  Ah, if he might even have parted with his little friend to her, how far better it would have been than this strange, wrong thing that had happened with such suddenness that the boy could scarcely get his breath for the way his heart beat.

He pressed his hand to his streaming eyes, then, seeing that people were staring at him curiously, he stole away, walking blindly and stumbling over the rough pavement.

At last he came to a place in a quiet street where a seat was built into a wall, and there he sat down and tried to think.  In his despair the thought of the great King of heaven and earth came to him.

“Dear God,” he murmured breathlessly, “what now?  What did I wrong, that you did not take care of Topaz and me?”

The breeze in the treetops was his only answer; so after listening for a minute to the soothing sound, he took the Book of Life from his blouse and opened it.

Oh, wonderful were the words he saw.  How they glowed and seemed to live upon the gray page.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee:  He will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”

Gabriel caught his trembling lip between his teeth.  He knew no one in this crowded city.  He had no home, no friends, no money except the few coppers in his pocket.  How, then, was help to come?

“Dear God,” he whispered, “I have no one now in all the world but you.  Topaz is gone and I am grieved sore, for he is wretched.  Let me save him.  I am not afraid, dear God, not afraid of anything.  I trust you.”

Comforted by a little blind hope that crept into his heart, the boy looked up; and the first thing that his swollen eyes rested upon was a large poster affixed to the opposite wall, with letters a foot high.  “REWARD!” it said.  “H.R.H. the princess has lost her golden dog.  A full reward for his return to the palace!”

Gabriel’s heart gave a great bound.  What golden dog was there anywhere but Topaz?  The color that had fled from his cheeks came back.  But would an organ-grinder dare claim for his own a dog that belonged to a princess of the country?  And yet—­and yet—­the little dog’s joy and light-heartedness with himself showed that he had been well treated by whomever taught him his pretty tricks.  The organ-grinder did not treat him well, and who that really knew Topaz would dream of taking a whip to force him to his work!

Gabriel, young as he was, saw that there was some mystery here, and beside, there had been the glowing words in the Book of Life, telling him again not to be afraid, and promising him that the greatest of all kings would not fail him or forsake him.

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Jewel's Story Book from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.