97' Christmas

Zvonko Springer (zzspri@COSY.SBG.AC.AT)
Sun, 21 Dec 1997 13:05:51 +0100 

        Dear ALL readers of MEMORIES listserv,

   I have chosen a story of an anonymous origin from the Philippines to
accompany my 97' Christmas wishes to you. Here is that tale which I hope
you'd read with a bit of thoughtful interest.

                        *** Old Phillipines' tale ***

   A king had two sons. When he became old enough he believed that it would
be good for the country to nominate his successor after all. The king
called in the Panel of Elders and asked his sons to attend that meeting. He
gave to each of his sons five silver pieces telling them: "You shall fill
the Great Hall of our castle until the evening with whatever you can get
for these five silver pieces. It doesn't matter with what you fill the
room." - The Elders said: "That is a very good task."
   The older son left the castle and was passing by a field with workers
who had been cutting sugar cane. It has been collected and in bundles put
through a press. Around the press lay several large stacks of pressed out
cane seemingly without any aim. - He thought for himself: " That's a good
chance to fill the large hall with this useless matter."
   He called workers' foreman and soon they agreed on the price for
bringing enough of thresh and to fill the Great Hall full until late that
afternoon. When the hall was full to its margin the older son went to call
his father whom he said: " I have fulfilled the task. You don't have to
wait for my younger brother anymore. Appoint me as your successor." - The
King replied: "It's not dark yet. I shall wait until then."
   Soon after the younger son and asked if the room could be cleared of all
threshed sugar can. It was done as requested. Then he placed a candle in
the middle of Great Hall igniting it afterwards. The candle's shine lit the
Great Hall and illuminating even the furthest corner of it.
   Father said: "You shall be successor. Your brother paid five silver
pieces to fill the Great Hall with useless stuff. You even haven't spent
one of them to fill it with Light. Thus you have filled it with something
peoples need most."

                                *** The tale's end ***

   Writting this I look at a quitely flickering candle wishing you

                A JOYFULL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS' DAYS
                                and
                A HAPPY AND PEACUFUL NEW YEAR 1998

        yours Zvonko of Oak Hill alias elderly CROATIAN SOLDIER now.