Aquarian Age Stories for Children
Betty's Dream
by
Esther Tobiason
Betty had been rude, and Mother had told
her to sit in the big armchair and think about how she would like to be treated
as she had treated her little baby sister. But Betty had not been quiet long
before she fell sound asleep. In fact, one of the reasons why she had been cross
was that she was tired and sleepy, for had had not obeyed Mother and gone to bed
the night before when she had been told to.
All at once Betty heard something rattle, and upon looking up
what do you suppose she saw? A little man, not much bigger than her foot, and in
his hand he held the oddest looking string of beads that Betty had ever seen.
She thought the beads were interesting looking, but she did not think that the
funny little man had any business waking her up, and so she said to him:
"You certainly are not a polite little man." But the little man,
instead of answering, added another bead to the string he bad in his hand. Betty
noticed that it was not a very pretty bead. It was of a reddish color, but
instead of being clear as were some of the beads already on the string it was
dark and muddy looking.
Although Betty had just about decided not to talk to the little
man any more, she did want to know why he chose such an ugly looking bead, and
so she said:
"Why did you not choose a pretty bead to add to the
string?"
And then what do you suppose happened? The little man looked up,
and he had the saddest look on his face when he answered:
"I would like to string only beautiful beads, but you won't
let me."
"I will not let you?" exclaimed Betty in great
surprise. "What have I to do with your choice of beads?"
"No," replied the little man, "you will not let
me."
"But I have never seen you before, and I don't even want
those beads because you have mixed ugly ones with the beautiful ones," said
Betty. Again the little man looked very sad and said:
"I am very sorry, Miss Betty, but these are your beads.
Would you like to know how they became yours?"
"Yes," said Betty, "will you tell me?"
"Well," started the little man, "it is quite a
long story, but since I was rude enough to wake you up, perhaps I had better
tell you. I'll start at the beginning of the string. Do you see this tiny
beautiful bead, a pale pink pearl?"
"Yes," said Betty, "I think that is a very
beautiful one. I wish the whole string were like that. How did that one become
mine?"
"Do you remember once when you were very tiny that Mother
asked you to pick up baby sister's toys and you answered, "Yes, Mother
dear, I will pick them up'?" But Betty could not remember. It had happened
when she was a very small girl.
But the little man said, "It does not matter whether you
remember or not because this little bead is a record of that good deed, and the
bead is pretty because you made Mother happy." Betty felt very glad that
she had earned such a pretty bead and that she had helped make her mother happy.
But then she noticed that the next bead was a dark, murky, greenish looking one.
Again the little man looked sad and went on with his story.
"Once when your Aunt Edna brought a pretty toy for your
little sister, you took it away from her because you wanted it for yourself, and
whenever you express envy or jealousy, you earn a dark, muddy, greenish looking
bead." Betty felt very much like crying for she was very sorry she had
taken what did not belong to her. However, she did not dare to cry for she was
afraid the little man might have to add another ugly looking bead to the string.
But, oh! the next bead was a lovely, clear red gem, and it was so beautiful that
Betty knew it must be, a real ruby. The little man seemed to read her thoughts
for he answered:
"Yes, indeed, it is a real ruby. Once you saved a little
kitten from being hurt by a big dog. You were afraid of the dog yourself, but
you would not let him hurt the kitten, and so because you were brave and tried
to protect that which was weaker than yourself, you won this beautiful
bead." Betty remembered that time. She had indeed been afraid of the big
dog, but she knew the little kitten was in danger, and, oh! how grateful it had
been. It had snuggled in her arms and purred its thanks.
The next bead on the string was a big sparkling amber. Betty
felt sure it must be a record of something good, and she hoped the little man
would tell her about it, for it did make her feel so happy to know that all the
good things she had done were not forgotten. This time when the little man went
on with his story he smiled and asked Betty if she remembered how she had been
told to wash her teeth each day, to breathe deeply, and to eat the things that
would keep her strong and well. Betty did remember, and she also remembered that
she had made up her mind to surprise her mother by not having to be told about
these things each day. Then the little man told her that as long as she took
good care of her body it would add to the beauty of the amber bead.
And then something strange happened: the little man faded out of
sight, the string of beads seemed to spread out in such a way that the colors
were all about her, and then she heard a little voice say "If you want only
beautiful beads on your life's string, remember to say each day:
Today I will think good thoughts,
I will do only good deeds,
I will be kind to every living thing;
My heart will then be pure as a white rose
And I shall see God in everything."
|