Part 2.
The little boys watched their new friend until they could see him no more, and then they sat still for a few moments, thinking of all they had heard. At last one of them, named Edone, began:
“Well, what do you say? Of course, we cannot stay here always, but I should like to play a little more before I go.”
“So should I,” said Argia, “and I want to eat a few more strawberries before we set out on this long, tiring journey.”
The third boy, Astathes, seemed undecided. “I hardly know what to say,” he remarked. “We were so warned not to delay.”
“Yes,” said Edone. “Of course, I do not mean to be late, but there is no use being in such a hurry. It is early morning yet; we could play for another hour and still be in plenty of time.”
“Well! Yes!” said Astathes, “and the wind might get up, and then it would be cooler, not hotter. I don’t see why we should be in a hurry; but what do you say, Agape?”
“That I mean to set out directly; and so I hope you will’ too. Think of that beautiful home; I am longing to be off, and begin my journey at once. What pleasure should we have in playing here, when we have been so urged to start immediately?”
“I believe you are right,” said Astathes, “so I will go with you.”
“Well, then,” replied the other, “do not let us delay a moment.” So he took his reed flute and hung his bottle of clear water at his side and set out with Astathes for the side of the garden next to the plain.
Then Edone and Argia began to laugh at them and say, “What a hurry you are in; we shall be there all in good time and have all the pleasure of playing, too.” And as I watched these boys, some words I had once read in a good old book came into my mind, and they were these: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation.”
So the little boys walked on, and as they walked, they talked of the beautiful home and the kind Friend they should find there. Presently they came in sight of the stile, and beyond it they could see a rough looking waste.
“O! how rough and dreary!” exclaimed Astathes. “I feel like turning back.”
“No! No!” said Agape, and he put his foot on the stile. As the stranger had told him, it was firm and strong, and in a moment he was on the other side. He hardly noticed Astathes had not followed him; he was so busy spelling out an inscription which he found printed in old English on the farther side. It was this: “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God,” and underneath was a second motto, if we may call it so: “Run with patience the race that is set before you.”
Agape was just going to show these words to his little companion, when he observed that Astathes was still on the other side of the stile, and calling to him to return. “Come,” he said, “and let us gather some of this beautiful fruit to take with us in case there is none on the way,”
“No, dear Astathes,” said Agape, “I do not wish to come back. I know we shall not be denied any good thing upon the way. Here is the path; let us follow it.”
But Astathes still lingered. “I do not know how to get over the stile,” he said. “I am afraid it is not firm, and then you are walking so fast I can never keep up. I will just wait here for Argia and Edone.” And he stood leaning against the stile, gazing at Agape, as he sped along the pathway. At last he roused himself, and saying, “Well, it’s no use troubling any more just now,” he crept back to his former companions, who were still busy eating wild strawberries. At first they laughed at Astathos for turning back so son, but presently it was forgotten, and they went again to their games. But I noticed that the gaiety had gone from these boys; the sun began to beat upon their heads; they wearied of the beautiful fruit, and when they tried to play it only ended in a quarrel, and I felt more and more certain that Agape, in spite of all they said, had chosen the better part.
“Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:13, 14.)
ML 03/11/1917