The cherries

This is the story of the cherries. One day, while Jesus and Saint Peter were walking through the world, they felt very tired. It was terribly hot, but on the way they couldn't find the least charitable soul to give them a glass of water, not the smallest stream to get them a trickle of water.

The cherries

Stumbling along, Jesus, who was walking in front, saw a horseshoe on the ground; he turned to his disciple and said to him:

• Pierre, pick up this horseshoe and keep it.

But Saint Peter, who was in a dog's mood, answered him:

• This piece of iron is not worth stooping. Leave it there, Lord.

Jesus, as usual, made no comment; he contented himself with bending down, picking up the iron and putting it in his pocket. They set off again, mute and silent.

After some time, they met a blacksmith going in the opposite direction. Jesus entered into conversation with him during the halt which they all made together, and at the moment of parting, Jesus sold him the iron which he had found.

They continued on their way and came across a peddler who was going to the nearby village to sell fruit. Jesus stopped him and bought with the four crowns from the sale of the horseshoe, half a pound of cherries. During all this time, Saint Peter remained immured in his silence and his bad mood worsened.

The heat redoubled; throats dried up. Only Saint Peter suffered from thirst, because Jesus ate the cherries and the juice from the fruit refreshed his palate. The apostle, who trudged along behind him, gazed longingly at the Saviour; but as the cherries had been bought with the proceeds from the sale of the horseshoe which he had not wanted to pick up, he dared not ask Jesus for his share of the feast.

This one, without looking like anything, dropped a cherry from time to time, and Saint Peter bent down eagerly to pick it up and put it to his thirsty mouth. When there were no more cherries, Jesus turned to his disciple and said to him:

• You see, Pierre, we must not disdain anything in this world, even what seems to us petty and devoid of value. For not wanting to bend down once and pick up the horseshoe, you had to bow many times for the cherries I dropped on the floor. This will teach you, Peter, not to disdain anything or anyone.

Saint Peter found nothing to answer; he lowered his head and humbly continued the journey behind his Lord.