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A powerful and wealthy king was getting too old to rule. He loved his people and wanted them to have a good king. Having no heirs to his throne, he devised a plan to find a new king. Late one night, he summoned his most trusted servant and gave him the instructions.

The next morning, the people traveled down the main road in the kingdom as they always did. However, to their surprise, as they came to a narrow and difficult turn, they encountered a large pile of rocks right in the middle of the road, which almost blocked the way. Slowly everyone went around or over the pile, complaining and murmuring as they went.

The king’s most trusted servant watched from the shadows. Minutes and then hours passed and at noon the servant rode back to the king to report. The king sent the servant again to the highway to watch and report. Again, at sunset, the servant came and gave his king the report. The king was sorrowful and seemed in deep despair.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the gate. The servant went to the gate and returned with a farmer, carrying a bag of gold. O king,” he said, “as I traveled down the king’s highway this evening, I came upon a huge pile of rocks in your highway. Knowing it would cause others difficulty, I moved the stones into the forest. At the bottom of the pile I found this bag of gold, marked with your royal emblem. I came to return it to you. The king rose quickly from his throne and embraced the man.

My son, I’m so proud of you! I had the bag of gold placed on the road and covered with rocks to test the people of my kingdom, for I am getting too old to rule and wanted to find a new king who would love this people as I do. You have passed the test. “Thank you, your Majesty”, said the farmer, “but what test did I pass”? When you moved the rocks, you showed concern for your fellowman. You were willing to work hard to help them and ease their burdens and lighten their way. When you found the gold, you returned it to me, showing you are honest and trustworthy. You shall be the new king.

Every task has a bag of gold for the one who completes it with honor.

An old man, going a lone highway,

Came at the evening, cold and gray,

To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,

Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;

The sullen stream had no fears for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You are wasting strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day;

You never again must pass this way;

You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide

Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:

"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,

"There followeth after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.

An old man, going a lone highway,

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