Page 5 - All India Magazine Jun-2022

Gratitude, — A Rare Virtue

The Virtues (A tale for young and old)
Once upon a time there was a splendid palace, in the
heart of which lay a secret sanctuary, whose threshold no
being had ever crossed. Furthermore, even its outermost
galleries were almost inaccessible to mortals, for the palace
stood on a very high cloud, and very few, in any age, could
find the way to it.
It was the palace of Truth.
One day a festival was held there, not for men but for
very different beings, gods and goddesses great and small,
who on earth are honoured by the name of Virtues.
The vestibule of the palace was a great hall, where the
walls, the floor, the ceiling, luminous in themselves, were
resplendent with a myriad glittering fires.
It was the Hall of Intelligence. Near to the ground, the
light was very soft and had a beautiful deep sapphire hue,
but it became gradually clearer towards the ceiling, from
which girandoles of diamonds hung like chandeliers, their
myriad facets shooting dazzling rays.
The Virtues came separately, but soon formed congenial
groups, full of joy to find themselves for once at least to-
gether, for they are usually so widely scattered throughout
the world and the worlds, so isolated amid so many alien
beings.
Sincerity reigned over the festival. She was dressed in a
transparent robe, like clear water, and held in her hand a
cube of purest crystal, through which things can be seen as
they really are, far different from what they usually seem,
for there their image is reflected without distortion.
Near to her, like two faithful guardians, stood Humility,
at once respectful and proud, and Courage, lofty-browed,

All India Magazine, June 2022 5