No More Learning

'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.
There is a God, and man has an immortal soul. I believe now
all I denied before. '

But the shouts of laughter that rose up drowned the priest's voice, for
they thought he was only trying them for argument.

'Prove it, master,' they cried, 'prove it! Who has ever seen God? Who
has ever seen the soul? '

And the room was stirred with their laughter.

The priest stood up to answer them, but no word could he utter; all his
eloquence, all his powers of argument, had gone from him, and he could
do nothing but wring his hands and cry out--

'There is a God! there is a God! Lord, have mercy on my soul! '

And they all began to mock him, and repeat his own words that he had
taught them--

'Show him to us; show us your God. '

And he fled from them groaning with agony, for he saw that none
believed, and how then could his soul be saved?

But he thought next of his wife.

'She will believe,' he said to himself. 'Women never give up God. '

And he went to her; but she told him that she believed only what he
taught her, and that a good wife should believe in her husband first,
and before and above all things in heaven or earth.