Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Five Minutes' Stories
    Five Minutes' Stories
    Five Minutes' Stories
    Ebook155 pages1 hour

    Five Minutes' Stories

    By Walter Jenks Morgan and Mrs Molesworth

    ()

    Read preview
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateNov 27, 2013
    Five Minutes' Stories

    Read more from Walter Jenks Morgan

    Related to Five Minutes' Stories

    Related ebooks

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Lost Jewels

      Nov 28, 2018

      The Lost Jewels
      19 min read

    • Article

      Mrs Macarthur’s Secret Diary

      Jun 17, 2020

      Mrs Macarthur’s Secret Diary
      7 min read

    • Article

      Mrs Macarthur’s Secret Diary

      Jun 17, 2020

      Mrs Macarthur’s Secret Diary
      7 min read

    • Article

      Where TWO RIVERS MEET

      Apr 3, 2024

      Where TWO RIVERS MEET
      6 min read

    • Article

      Tomorrows

      Mar 15, 2022

      The night, as most nights, was like a dream. At ten, once I’d fed the dog the last scraps off the stove. Once I’d cursed the cat for scratching up my mama’s antique furniture, then welcomed him back into my arms. Once I’d slicked my hair into a ponyt

      26 min read

    • Article

      The INVISIBLE RED STRING

      Feb 1, 2023

      The INVISIBLE RED STRING
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Hermit’s Secret

      Jan 1, 2020

      The Hermit’s Secret
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Lights

      Dec 1, 2018

      The Lights
      16 min read

    • Article

      If The Hat Fits

      Aug 18, 2020

      If The Hat Fits
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Kobold in the Corner PART 1

      Oct 1, 2022

      THE CARVING HAD stood off to the side of the chimney for years upon years, so long, in fact, that Friedrich had forgotten when it was put there, or why. It was a curious thing, fashioned from elm wood in a crude yet appealing style. It looked like a

      6 min read

    • Article

      STORY & TRUTH

      Sep 12, 2022

      STORY & TRUTH
      1 min read

    • Article

      Moving On

      Dec 22, 2019

      Moving On
      4 min read

    • Article

      A PRECIOUS Moment In Time

      Jun 17, 2019

      There’s something about Lambrook Hall that always draws me back and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been here. I don’t really care if it’s hundreds, to be honest. I can’t resist it. I’m in the dining room again now. Not the ballroom or the lib

      6 min read

    • Article

      DULCE DOMUM From The Wind In The Willows

      Nov 1, 2022

      DULCE DOMUM From The Wind In The Willows
      11 min read

    • Article

      HEART Of The Community

      Aug 3, 2021

      HEART Of The Community
      12 min read

    • Article

      Aligogoro

      Jun 22, 2020

      Aligogoro
      4 min read

    • Article

      Isabel’s

      Jan 19, 2022

      Isabel’s
      3 min read

    • Article

      After “The End”

      Oct 10, 2022

      I walked down the road with a hunched back and a wet cigarette in my mouth—the fire had died a while back. My hands were tucked into the pockets of my jacket, and my hair fell over my face, limiting my sight. But I wasn’t really seeing where I was go

      10 min read

    • Article

      Elsi, The Strange Maid

      Aug 29, 2018

      Elsi, The Strange Maid
      17 min read

    • Article

      For Isabel

      Aug 28, 2017

      For Isabel
      8 min read

    • Article

      Ferrante Elena Beautiful No More!

      Oct 7, 2020

      Ferrante Elena Beautiful No More!
      6 min read

    • Article

      MUM IS MISSING Liane Moriarty

      Sep 8, 2021

      MUM IS MISSING Liane Moriarty
      7 min read

    • Article

      Shruti Swamy

      Jun 15, 2018

      Not the scent of the smoke, but the sight of it, not the sight itself, but the screen through which it altered the sunlight—she couldn’t articulate the change exactly, it’s just that the light seemed odd, like the acidic light of a nightmare. She had

      13 min read

    • Article

      Let The Daisies Grow

      Feb 2, 2021

      Let The Daisies Grow
      7 min read

    • Article

      Justanother Day

      May 31, 2022

      Justanother Day
      6 min read

    • Article

      MUM IS MISSING Liane Moriarty

      Sep 8, 2021

      MUM IS MISSING Liane Moriarty
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Promise OF SPRING

      Feb 10, 2021

      The Promise OF SPRING
      7 min read

    • Article

      A Little About Why

      Jun 1, 2023

      A Little About Why
      15 min read

    Reviews for Five Minutes' Stories

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Five Minutes' Stories - Walter Jenks Morgan

      Project Gutenberg's Five Minutes' Stories, by Mrs. (Mary Louisa) Molesworth

      This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

      almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or

      re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

      with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

      Title: Five Minutes' Stories

      Author: Mrs. (Mary Louisa) Molesworth

      Illustrator: W. J. Morgan

      Release Date: July 18, 2010 [EBook #33196]

      Language: English

      *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE MINUTES' STORIES ***

      Produced by Delphine Lettau, Clive Pickton and the Online

      Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at

      http://www.pgdpcanada.net

      FIVE MINUTES STORIES

      By

      Mrs Molesworth

      Author

      of

      Carrots

      Etc.

      TWELFTH THOUSAND.

      London:

      Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

      NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.

      43 QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C.

      Brighton: 135 NORTH STREET.

      New York: E. & J. B. YOUNG & CO.

      Richard Clay and Sons, Limited,

      London and Bungay.

      CONTENTS.

      FIVE MINUTES' STORIES.

      By Mrs. MOLESWORTH.

      ABDALLAH THE UNHAPPY.

      GREAT many years ago there dwelt in a city of the East, of which you have never heard the name, a wise and holy man. He was highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, for he was kind and benevolent, never refusing good counsel to those in earnest to profit by it, so that by degrees the fame of his sagacity spread far and wide, and many came from great distances to consult him.

      One day he was sitting in front of his modest dwelling, enjoying the soft breeze that stirred the trees hard by, reading from time to time short passages of an ancient volume open upon his knees, when a shadow fell across its pages, and looking up, he perceived that a stranger stood before him, who saluted him with the greatest respect and courtesy. The sage returned the customary greetings, and then inquired in what he could be of service to the new-comer.

      Father, said the stranger, I have journeyed far to ask your advice. My quest is summed up in few words, What can I do to be happy?

      The wise man looked at him searchingly. He was a handsome man in the prime of life, richly dressed, healthy and vigorous. His appearance would have been most prepossessing but for a melancholy and discontented expression of countenance—there was no genial smile about the mouth, no kindly light in the eyes.

      What have you tried? inquired the sage.

      Everything, replied the stranger. Yet without foolish prodigality and excess. I have sought to surround myself with beauty and refinement, for my wealth is inexhaustible. I have dipped deep into learning, for my abilities are, I am told, considerable; I have even of late in a sort of despair tried to find content in enjoyment of less elevated kinds, such as seems to satisfy many men. But all was useless—eating and drinking, and such physical gratifications could do nothing for one who had sought in vain satisfaction in the perfection of music, of painting and sculpture—nay, more, who had found in the severest of studies but weariness and disappointment.

      You have been too changeable and impatient, my son, said the sage. Try again—I do not say return to the lower pleasures of which you speak, but devote yourself more exclusively to the fine arts. Travel far and wide and visit whatever is beautiful. One year from now, return, and tell me the result.

      Abdallah bowed and departed. The year passed, and again he stood before the sage, despondent as formerly.

      In vain. I have exhausted myself in travel. I have seen all the world has to show. I am more miserable than ever.

      Turn then again to study. Shut yourself up with your books. Work your hardest and see if therein you cannot find contentment. If you succeed I shall not expect to see you again.

      But some days before the year had elapsed, there once more stood Abdallah. He had grown thin and pale, his eyes told of midnight vigils, but their expression was no happier.

      It is useless, he said. "I have followed your advice. But I am not as other men. Nothing brings happiness to me. There is but one thing to do, but first I would ask your permission. Let me make an end of myself."

      The sage frowned.

      It must be as you say, he replied after some moments' silence. You are perhaps so constituted that happiness is impossible for you. If so, resignation is all that remains. But I cannot at once sanction your desire to quit this life. I must reflect upon it during a year. In the meantime consider the struggle as given up; think no more of your unhappy fate, but as you are about to die, use the time that remains, to some purpose, by spending it for others. You are the one wretched exception—so be it. Spend your time, your strength and your wealth in making some others—ordinary human beings—happier, so that at least some few tears may be dropped on your grave. Return in a year, and I will then authorize you to put an end to yourself.

      And Abdallah again bowed and withdrew, somewhat consoled by the thought that one year would see the last of his wretched existence, that even the wisest of men recognised him as cut off from the common lot.

      The year passed. But no Abdallah returned. It was not till some weeks after the appointed time that he appeared hastening eagerly towards the sage's dwelling. He was no longer thin or pale, his dress was much less rich than formerly, but seemed nevertheless to show his handsome figure to all the greater advantage, his bearing was upright, his step springing—there was a smile on his lips, a beautiful, kindly light in his dark eyes.

      Forgive me, father, for my delay, he cried. "I could not believe the time

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1