Fernando was a
boy from a very
poor family that
had great
difficulties
because in their
home they often
lacked even what
to eat.
But Fernando had
a good heart,
was always
cheerful and
helpful, and the
little he had he
would share with
others.
He was a
delivery boy for
a store, whose
owner decided to
help him so he
would not spend
his time in the
streets. His "salary"
was very small.
In fact, it
consisted of the
tips that people
willingly gave
him for his help.
One day he was
on his way home,
and it had been
a slow day; he
had gotten just
a few coins.
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It was
almost
night.
Passing
in front
of a
beautiful
cake
shop
window,
he
stopped
and
stood
there
looking
at all
the
candy
that was
displayed.
He heard
a deep
sigh
right
next to
him. He
turned
and saw
a little
wide-eyed
girl
staring
at a
huge
piece of
cake
with
chocolate
icing.
The
ragged
girl was
pale and
sickly
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 |
|
looking
like she
had not
eaten
anything
for many
many
hours. |
Pained with the
girl's situation,
Fernando asked:
- Are you hungry?
She nodded in
agreement
without stopping
to look at the
cake.
Fernando reached
into his pocket
consulting his
meager resources.
He was also
hungry. But
surely, at home,
his mother would
be waiting for
him with a plate
of hot soup and
a piece of bread.
He would like
buy something
for himself with
that money that
had been hard to
earn but the
little girl
seemed so hungry!
He made up his
mind. He entered
the cake shop,
bought a piece
of that cake,
and proud for
having bought it
with his money,
offered it to
the little
ragamuffin with
a big smile.
The look of joy
on the girl's
face was enough
to reward him.
 |
Satisfied, he
resumed his
journey home.
Near his home he
saw the lights
of an amusement
park that had
been assembled
that day.
The music, the
lights and the
movement of
people got
Fernando's
attention. He
loved amusement
|
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parks and all
its rides and
its music. But
he especially
loved the
carousel, with
the horses that
went continually
up and down to
the sound of
music; it
enchanted him. |
He stood there
looking. How he
would like to
ride that
carousel! But,
unfortunately,
he had no more
coins.
The price of a
ticket for a
ride on it was
the same as he
had spent buying
the piece of
cake for the
little beggar.
If he had not
bought the cake,
he would now
have the money
to take a ride
on the carousel.
He remembered, however, the
girl's dirty but
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 |
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happy face and
pushed away that
selfish thought
from his head. |
"Never mind," -
he thought -
"Mama always
told me that
whatever we do
to others, God
will give us
double. It was
therefore money
well spent."
Right then he
noticed a
well-dressed boy
at his side,
eating an ice
cream. Seeing
Fernando look at
the carousel, he
asked:
- Would you like
to ride on the
horses?
- I would. But I
have no money –
he answered.
The boy handed
him two tickets
saying
indifferently:
- Have these.
- But I can't
afford them! -
Fernando
stammered.
- It does not
matter. I am
tired of these
rides. My father
owns this park
and I always
have as many
tickets as I
want.
Thanking him,
Fernando stared
at the tickets,
his eyes moist
with emotion, as
he said to
himself:
- My mother was
right. I knew
God would repay
me but I did not
think it would
be so fast!...
Aunt Celia
