

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Parables Of A Province, by Gilbert Parker

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Title: Parables Of A Province

Author: Gilbert Parker

Release Date: October 18, 2006 [EBook #6242]
Last Updated: November 5, 2012

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARABLES OF A PROVINCE ***

Produced by David Widger

PARABLES OF A PROVINCE

By Gilbert Parker

CONTENTS

THE GOLDEN PIPES

THE GUARDIAN OF THE FIRE

BY THAT PLACE CALLED PERADVENTURE

THE SINGING OF THE BEES

THE WHITE OMEN

THE SOJOURNERS

THE TENT OF THE PURPLE MAT

THERE WAS A LITTLE CITY

THE FORGE IN THE VALLEY

THE GOLDEN PIPES

They hung all bronzed and shining, on the side of Margath Mountain—the tall and perfect pipes of the organ which was played by some son of God when the world was young. At least Hepnon the cripple said this was so, when he was but a child, and when he got older he said that even now a golden music came from the pipes at sunrise and sunset. And no one laughed at Hepnon, for you could not look into the dark warm eyes, dilating with his fancies, or see the transparent temper of his face, the look of the dreamer over all, without believing him, and reproving your own judgment. You felt that he had travelled ways you could never travel, that he had had dreams beyond you, that his fanciful spirit had had adventures you would give years of your dull life to know.

And yet he was not made only as women are made, fragile and trembling in his nerves. For he was strong of arm, and there was no place in the hills to be climbed by venturesome man, which he could not climb with crutch and shrivelled leg. Also, he was a gallant horseman, riding with his knees and one foot in stirrup, his crutch slung behind him. It may be that was why rough men listened to his fancies about the Golden Pipes. Indeed they would go out at sunrise and look across to where the pipes hung, taking the rosy glory of the morning, and steal away alone at sunset, and in some lonely spot lean out towards the flaming instrument to hear if any music rose from them. The legend that one of the Mighty Men of the Kimash H