No More Learning

' he asked.

'Oh, sir, have pity on my poor soul! ' urged the priest.

'Oh, ho! You have a soul, then? ' said the angel. 'Pray how did you find
that out? '

'It has been fluttering in me ever since you appeared,' answered the
priest. 'What a fool I was not to think of it before! '

'A fool, indeed,' said the angel. 'What good was all your learning,
when it could not tell you that you had a soul? '

'Ah, my lord,' said the priest, 'if I am to die, tell me how soon I may
be in heaven. '

'Never,' replied the angel. 'You denied there was a Heaven. '

'Then, my lord, may I go to Purgatory?
'

'You denied Purgatory also; you must go straight to Hell,' said the
angel.

'But, my lord, I denied Hell also,' answered the priest, 'so you can't
send me there either. '

The angel was a little puzzled.

'Well,' said he, 'I'll tell you what I can do for you. You may either
live now on earth for a hundred years enjoying every pleasure, and then
be cast into Hell for ever; or you may die in twenty-four hours in the
most horrible torments, and pass through Purgatory, there to remain
till the Day of Judgment, if only you can find some one person that
believes, and through his belief mercy will be vouchsafed to you and
your soul will be saved. '

The priest did not take five minutes to make up his mind.

'I will have death in the twenty-four hours,' he said, 'so that my soul
may be saved at last. '

On this the angel gave him directions as to what he was to do, and left
him.

Then, immediately, the priest entered the large room where all his
scholars and the kings' sons were seated, and called out to them--

'Now, tell me the truth, and let none fear to contradict me. Tell me
what is your belief. Have men souls? '

'Master,' they answered, 'once we believed that men had souls; but,
thanks to your teaching, we believe so no longer. There is no Hell, and
no Heaven, and no God. This is our belief, for it is thus you taught
us. '

Then the priest grew pale with fear, and cried out: 'Listen! I taught
you a lie.