The Tailor in Heaven
One very fine day it came to pass that the good
God wished to enjoy himself in the heavenly garden, and took all the apostles and saints
with him, so that no one stayed in heaven but saint Peter. The Lord had commanded him to
let no one in during his absence, so Peter stood by the door and kept watch. Before long
someone knocked. Peter asked who was there, and what he wanted. I am a poor, honest tailor
who prays for admission, replied a smooth voice. Honest indeed, said Peter, like the thief
on the gallows. You have been light-fingered and have snipped folks, clothes away. You
will not get into heaven. The Lord has forbidden me to let anyone in while he is out.
Come, do be merciful, cried the tailor. Little scraps which fall off the table of their
own accord are not stolen, and are not worth speaking about. Look, I am lame, and have
blisters on my feet from walking here, I cannot possibly turn back again. Just let me in,
and I will do all the dirty work. I will carry the children, and wash their clothes, and
scrub and clean the benches on which they have been playing, and patch all their torn
frocks. Saint Peter let himself be moved by pity, and opened the door of heaven just wide
enough for the lame tailor to slip his lean body in. He was forced to sit down in a corner
behind the door, and told to stay quietly and peaceably there, in order that the Lord,
when he returned, might not observe him and be angry. The tailor obeyed, but once when
saint Peter went outside the door, he got up, and full of curiosity, peeped into every
corner of heaven, and inspected the arrangement of the whole place. At length he came to a
spot where many beautiful and precious chairs were standing, and in the midst was a seat
all of gold which was set with shining jewels. Likewise it was much higher than the other
chairs, and a footstool of gold was before it. It was the seat, however, on which the Lord
sat when he was at home, and from which he could see all that happened on earth. The
tailor stood still, and looked at the seat for a long time, for it pleased him better than
all else. At last he could master his curiosity no longer, and climbed up and seated
himself in the chair. Then he saw everything which was happening on earth, and observed an
ugly old woman who was standing washing by the side of a stream, secretly laying two veils
on one side for herself. The sight of this made the tailor so angry that he laid hold of
the golden footstool, and threw it down to earth through heaven, at the old thief. But
since he could not bring the stool back again, he slipped quietly out of the chair, seated
himself in his place behind the door, and behaved as if he had never stirred from the
spot. When the Lord and master returned again with his heavenly companions, he did not see
the tailor behind the door, but when he seated himself on his chair the footstool was
missing. He asked saint Peter what had become of the stool, but he did not know. Then he
asked if he had let anyone come in. I know of no one who has been here, answered Peter,
but a lame tailor, who is still sitting behind the door. Then the Lord had the tailor
brought before him, and asked him if he had taken away the stool, and where he had put it.
Oh, Lord, answered the tailor joyously, I threw it in my anger down to earth at an old
woman whom I saw stealing two veils at the washing. Oh, you knave, said the Lord, were I
to judge as you judge, how do you think you could have escaped so long. I should long ago
have had no chairs, benches, seats, nay, not even an oven-fork, but should have thrown
everything down at the sinners. Henceforth you can stay no longer in heaven, but must go
outside the door again. Then go where you will. No one shall give punishment here, but I
alone, the Lord. Peter was obliged to take the tailor out of heaven again, and as he had
torn shoes, and feet covered with blisters, he took a stick in his hand, and went to
wait-a-while, where the good soldiers sit and make merry.
--The End-- |
