Anica and the Pearls
Madam Toastmaster & dear Friends,
Anica was a beautiful little daughter with bright blue eyes and long blonde hair. She was the only child of her mother and father, and how they loved her! How happy they were when she played around the house, as five year olds do. Every evening mommy used to put her in the bath and played with her, finally dressed her, and then daddy took her to bed, told her a story, helped her to say a prayer. tugged the blankets around her and then kissed her good night.
Anica had a doll named Annie and a kitten named Frosty that she was madly in love with. She took Annie with her wherever she went, and Frosty even slept with her in bed at night. What a wonderful and peaceful trio they were! These three were inseparable and to try and remove one of the trio was as unthinkable as death in the family.
One day Anica went to shop with her mother. At the exit of the shop she saw a string of pearls for R5 and was immediately in love with it. She pleaded with her mum to buy her the pearls, but her mommy said that she had to buy it for herself.
At home she emptied her piggy bank. Therein she had the three Rand coins that she carefully saved up after her birthday party, and another 50c that she received from the tooth-mouse. For a whole week she washed the dished for her mommy for another Rand and she cleaned daddy’s shoes in exchange for another 50c. She was extremely proud of herself when she went to the shop with her mom, and brought the pearls home. They were extremely precious to her, and every night she placed them in a small sachet under her pillow.
One night, about a week later, just as her dad was kissing her goodnight, he asked her : “ Anica - do you love daddy ?” “Oh yes daddy” she said. “Then give me your pearls” She was visibly shocked, and clung tightly to the sachet under her pillow.
A few nights later daddy again asked: “Anica - do you love daddy?” “Yes daddy, I love you” she said. “Then give me your pearls”. After a long silence she said in a timid voice : “ No daddy - won’t you rather have Annie?”
The next night, when daddy came to say goodnight, there was uncertainty in her eyes. Then came the dreaded question : “Anica - do you love daddy? Then give me your pearls” “Oh my daddy - please would you rather take Frosty!”
The next night, as her daddy came into the room, Anica was burying her face in the pillow. Her tender body shook as she wept from her heart. As he sat down at her bedside she took out a small parcel from under her pillow. It was crudely made up and in her own hand there was written upon - “Daddy” Tears freely flowed over her cheeks as she parted with her precious jewels.
Daddy reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet sachet, that he had kept so long, and gave it to her. With a question in her large blue eyes she opened it and shook out a string or real pearls! Her joy knew no bounds! “ Oh Daddy I love you, I love you!” she said while embracing him.
Dear friends, how many times are we like Anica, not willing to let go of the imitation while our gracious Father has something far better to give to us.
Madam Toastmaster!