Five weeks had scarcely passed since Martin Lesina had come to live with Juriga, but it seemed to them as if he had always been there. Pablo was not mistaken in saying that Palko would be delighted with the dog’s company. In fact, the pleasure was entirely mutual and, wherever the marks of the little boy’s sandals were found, one was sure to see the dog’s footprints also.
From the time of Lesina’s arrival Pablo went no more to the tavern with the other woodcutters because Lesina neither drank nor smoked. “Once, when I was in a drunken state,” said Lesina, “a terrible thing happened, something of which I do not even care to speak.” This was the reply which Juriga received when he invited his new friend to accompany him to the tavern. Then he added to Juriga, “You yourself would do well also in quitting the drink. We could have milk every day and meat on Sundays with what we would save in that way.”
The suggestion pleased Juriga very much. He did not care so much for meat, but was very, very fond of milk. Previously he had never been able to satisfy his desire, except once in a while, but now he could have either hot or cold milk when he pleased. However, he could not seem to do without his pipe, and occasionally Lesina brought him tobacco. They slept together, as if they were father and son, and Palko had his bed in another corner of the hut, where he had the happiest dreams in the world in the company of Dunaj, the dog.
There was only one thing which appeared strange to Juriga. Lesina, who showed himself so pleasant to everybody, hardly ever looked at Palko, and yet the lad, as usual, always helped him when necessary. The old man had not noticed that Palko did not chatter as much as usual. He seemed to take great pleasure in going for the milk, and often returned very late and very tired. It was not difficult to see also that Dunaj had done his share of running. Juriga would surely have noticed this if he had been alone, but, taken up with Lesina’s company, he did not think as much about Palko. For three Sundays in succession the men went to church, not returning until nightfall. Finding the meal prepared, it did not occur to them to ask Palko what he had been doing with himself all day.
It is no small thing for a boy to have a secret — and such a secret! Why did he not say anything about his precious treasure? Palko would not have been able to explain this even to himself, but he remembered certain stories in which, when people spoke of what they had seen, the whole thing disappeared. If he told anyone that he had actually discovered one of the outposts of the Sunshine Country, with its mysterious grotto and the holy book, that he went there for a little while every day, and on Sunday stayed from morning till night to read line after line in order to find the road to the true Sunshine Country, who knew ifthe grotto would disappear with the book and all the rest of it? In that case he would never be able to learn what he wanted to know.
Therefore, he kept quiet about his great secret, and he would rather suffer punishment for having spent too much time in search of strawberries than reveal the true cause of his delay. When the day arrived that he knew all he desired, he would share his secret with his grandfather, and then they would both journey together to the country where this boy Jesus lived.
Nevertheless, as he advanced in his reading, he thought less and less about the kingdom of stories. His one desire was to know more and more about Jesus. Jesus — how great was His kindness! how wonderful His power! He seemed to be able to do anything He wished, because He was God’s Son.
Palko understood little of what happened on the banks of the Jordan between Jesus and John, that strange man who ate only locusts and wild honey. One thing he did understand, a great voice — God’s voice — sounded from heaven, making men understand that Jesus was His beloved Son whom it was necessary to obey. In the Slavic language, the same word is used for ‘to hear’ and ‘to obey’.
But how could that be? Joseph, then, was not His father? “Ah, yes, I understand; it’s the same with Juriga, who is not my true grandfather, but since he takes care of me, the people believe that I am his grandson, and so they believed that Joseph was Jesus’ father.”
Palko was immediately convinced that now he must obey the commands of the Lord Jesus for had not the Father God ordered it so?
“When I understand fully,” he said to himself, “what Jesus had to say to the people, then I, too, will obey Him, even though I may not be able to see Him personally.” Oh, how powerful He was! How well He understood how to overcome the devil when he tried to tempt Him! And another wonderful thing, how He called sinners to Himself, taught them and healed all the sick that came to Him to be cured! Then how He gave bread to the hungry poor people, even bread enough to feed thousands of people! How many wonderful things there were in the book. But Palko wondered, what was going to happen, seeing that many people began to turn against Him?
What sad things did Palko now have to read. How difficult he found it to sleep at night, owing to the fact that his imagination brought the whole thing before him so vividly. That terrible night in the garden where Jesus prayed, and where He was in such agony that He sweat great drops of blood. And then — to think of it — His disciples slept instead of watching with Him! “If I had been there, I would have put my arms about His neck and said, ‘Fear not, God will save Thee.’” But He didn’t save Him! Why? Why didn’t He deliver Him from His enemies? These wicked men came and took Him and after that — the tears almost made it impossible for Palko to read on. How they flogged Him and put Him to shame, and at last nailed Him to the Cross. “I hadn’t the least idea that the Christ in front of the church on a wooden cross was this same Lord Jesus. Of course, it isn’t really Him personally, but just a mere image. But now at least I know that they crucified Him! If I only could know why! Oh, why didn’t God liberate Him when He cried: ‘My God! My God! why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ instead of letting Him die? And then they buried Him!”
Palko closed the book and went away sorely puzzled. The sun was still high above the horizon; the mountain still wore its holiday dress, with its green forest lands and lovely flowers. Dunaj capered about happily, chasing squirrels and birds. Palko alone could not rejoice.
“What good are all these flowers? How can these little birds sing, when Jesus is dead?” thought the boy. “As He no longer lives, I shall never be able to see Him, nor be able to tell Him how much I care for Him, and that I had decided to do what He said.”
The following day he didn’t return to the cave. Nevertheless, there came to his mind the words on the first page of the book, line after line. If he wished to know the road to the Sunshine Country, he must read still further. Besides, he wanted to know what Mary and the disciples did when Jesus was no longer with them. Sunday had come again, the third Sunday that Juriga and Lesina had spent in the town. Seated in the grotto, his head in his hands, Palko was absorbed in his reading. Then all of a sudden he rose and jumped for joy.
“He lives! He lives!” cried Palko, and from far away across the valley the echo came back: “He lives! He lives!”
Always ready to join with his young master in all his moods, the dog scampered toward him wagging his tail.
“Dunaj! Jesus is living! Now, do you know? He is God’s Son! The stone was rolled away and He has come to life again. Now, leave me alone so that I can read what follows. I must know what happened afterward, and I’ll tell you all about it later.” The dog obeyed, and Palko seated himself again and was soon deep in his reading once more, with Dunaj’s silky head resting on his knees. Looking at his master with such an intelligent look, one could almost believe he, too, was impatient to know more about Jesus. At the end of an hour Palko was so engrossed with what he had been reading that he forgot even the presence of his dog.
The disciples worshipped at Jesus’ feet; He had declared that He would be with them always, even unto the end of the world, that all power had been given unto Him in heaven and on earth, and that their duty was to go forth and teach men to keep and obey those things which He had spoken unto them!
Jesus was alive! Jesus was raised from the dead! And Jesus was now with him. Palko, clasping his hands together, prayed earnestly: “Jesus, Son of God, seeing that you have power in heaven and on earth, you see me, even though I may not be able to see you. I wish to tell you how much I love you, yes, much more even than I love my grandfather, and I wish to obey you. Help me to find the way to the true Sunshine Country.”
Palko returned home that night earlier than usual, with a quantity of strawberries. He lighted the fire and prepared the stew for his grandfather, forgetting altogether that he himself had eaten nothing all day but a few of the strawberries. He was more than content with the great joy that flooded his soul. It seemed to him that Jesus had entered the little hut with him, and that now they were friends.
“See now!” he said, speaking to his invisible friend. “I am making the stew for my grandfather. Now I must go to the spring for water; the only thing I ask is that you will not go away before I return. I love you so!”
But strangely enough, it appeared to him that Jesus went with him to the spring.
Soon all was ready, and Palko anxiously waited for his grandfather’s return, because, at last, he was going to tell his great secret.
At last, Lesina having gone to the city, Juriga arrived alone and in a bad humor, having gone drinking at the tavern. He rebuked Palko at every turn, refused to taste the stew, and threw himself, holiday clothes and all, on the bed. When Palko said timidly that he would crush his best clothes, Juriga gave him such a slap on the face that the boy hurried out of the hut with a red cheek which stung for quite a while after.
“Don’t count it against him, Lord Jesus,” said Palko, “because he does not know that you are here.”
When Juriga was at last asleep, Palko ate the stew, now almost cold, without fear. In spite of the fact that he had forgotten the salt, he was so hungry that it tasted delicious.
“You will truly return again in the morning, Lord Jesus,” said Palko. “I am so tired now I’m nearly asleep already, but I do not want you to go away.”