The Dark Candle




A man had a little daughter.

His only and much-beloved child.

He lived

for her...

she was his life.

So

when she became ill

and her illness

resisted the efforts

of the best obtainable physicians,

he became like

a man possessed,

moving heaven and earth

to bring about her

restoration to health.

His best efforts proved unavailing

and the child died.




The father was

totally irreconcilable.

He became a bitter recluse,

shutting himself

away from his many friends

and refusing every activity

that might

restore his poise

and bring him back

to his normal self.



One night he had a dream.

He was in Heaven,

and

was witnessing'

a grand pageant

of all

the little child angels.




They were marching in an

apparently endless line

past the Great White Throne.

Every white-robed

angelic child

carried a candle.



He noticed

that one child's candle

was

not lighted.

Then

he saw

that the child

with the dark candle

was

his own little girl.




Rushing to her,

while the pageant faltered,

he seized

her in his arms,

caressed her tenderly,

and then asked:

"How is it, darling

that your candle alone

is unlighted?"



"Father,

they often relight it,

but your tears

always put it out."




Just then

he awoke from his dream.

The lesson was crystal clear,

and

its effects were immediate.



From that hour on

he was not a recluse,

but mingled freely and cheerfully

with his former friends and associates.

No longer

would his darling's candle

be extinguished

by

his useless tears.

"Author Unknown"