"How dare you?" she snapped, "How DARE you, young
man, talk to us like that?"
196 "I dare," answered The Young Speaker, "because I am The Messenger
of him that stood with you by the river and pledged you his love. I am
the Messenger of him you held in your arms and who grew to manhood and
was killed when his plane hit a tree." He turned to the other woman.
"And I am the Messenger of him that drove back and forth for most of
his seasons but whose greatest joy was when he drove back to the one he
loved. The greatest sadness in his heart was that there was never any
fruit of your love."
197 The other woman rose, putting her hand over her mouth, "Lord!" she
stammered, "who are you? Why do you rebuke us?"
198 "I am the one they call The Young Speaker," came the answer, "and
you are shamed because you accuse this man unjustly. Because of the
evil thought in your own hearts, you have shamed his good name.
199 Many years ago he held his own little girl as the fever of numbness
slowly took the life from her body. Night and day he nursed her until
the numbness reached her heart, and she went to The Lords. Now, in
these young ones, he sees her dancing body, and hears her singing
voice. And it brings him fond memories of days gone by.
200 He is a wealthy man, and he has made the dreams of many a girl that
played on this playground come true, and never asked one thing of them
in return. It is true that when some of them become women, and of
proper age, they gave to him the greatest treasure a woman can give a
man. But he never asked it of any, and only accepted because he knew it
was their gift of love. There is not one of those women that does not
call him grandfather,
and would trust him any day, with their daughters.
201 You owe this man apologies, you owe him service.