Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/201

 “Grant that whoever sits on the stool where you sat last night at supper may be unable to get up until I release him.”

St. Peter laughed at this, but Lord Jesus nodded and said:

“This wish, too, will be fulfilled.”

So they parted, Lord Jesus and blessed St. Peter going on their way, and the blacksmith returning home to his forge.

Things came to pass as Lord Jesus had promised they should. Work in plenty flowed into the blacksmith’s shop. The years went by but they made no impression on the blacksmith. He was as young as ever and as vigorous. His friends grew old and one by one died. His children grew up, married, and had children of their own. These in turn grew up. The years brought youth and maturity and old age to them all. The blacksmith alone remained unchanged.

A hundred years is a long time but at last even it runs out.

One night as the blacksmith was putting away his tools, there came a knock at the door. The blacksmith stopped his singing to call out:

“Who’s there?”