In the meantime the elder son rode into the world to find the
touchstone of the trial of truth; and whenever he came to a place
of habitation, he would ask the men if they had heard of it. And
in every place the men answered: "Not only have we heard of it, but
we alone, of all men, possess the thing itself, and it hangs in the
side of our chimney to this day". Then would the elder son be
glad, and beg for a sight of it. And sometimes it would be a piece
of mirror, that showed the seeming of things; and then he would
say, "This can never be, for there should be more than seeming".
And sometimes it would be a lump of coal, which showed nothing; and
then he would say, "This can never be, for at least there is the
seeming". And sometimes it would be a touchstone indeed, beautiful
in hue, adorned with polishing, the light inhabiting its sides; and
when he found this, he would beg the thing, and the persons of that
place would give it him, for all men were very generous of that
gift; so that at the last he had his wallet full of them, and they
chinked together when he rode; and when he halted by the side of
the way he would take them out and try them, till his head turned
like the sails upon a windmill.
"A murrain upon this business!" said the elder son, "for I perceive
no end to it.
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