Kind but Poor
By Alessandra German
Kind but Poor By Alessandra German Inspired by Grimms' The Star Talers "Tell me a story about humans"— Tommy the young Robin vigorously pleaded to his mother up in the nest. Mother Robin sighed. She knew that Tommy would never let go once he started. So she reluctantly started her tale. "Did I ever tell you the tale of Ermelinda? No?" The story began. Once upon a time there lived a young lady named Ermelinda. Her name meant kind as she was. She worked long hours for very little money. But still she was frugal and saved a modest sum. And with the little she had she still shared with others. One day, while walking home from the woolen factory, she passed by the front of the general store. There she came upon a pale, emaciated woman, on her knees in the snow, sobbing away. Ermelinda's heart broke when she saw her fellow villager's pain. "Dear Friend, what is it that makes
you grieve so? And what can I do to help? " The pained woman, looked up awoken from her chorus of tears. "Dear Lady, today is young Claus's birthday. But I cannot buy him a present. My husband was injured and we barely have enough to get by each day. All I want to do is bring a moment of joy, however brief, to my son's face. But I can't." And she was about ready to start weeping again. Ermelinda smiled. "Is that all the source of your pain? Here are 10 kriklewers that will buy a fine gift and help you tide things over for a few weeks." The receiver of the gift was dumbfounded. Then a smile came upon her face and she lunged forward wrapping Ermelinda with a warm embrace. "Dear Lady. You are too kind. My gratitude is beyond words. Thank you!" And she went in to buy Claus a wooden ship. Ermelinda went on her way, thinking nothing further about her act of kindness. She came upon a young man looking lost. "Dear Friend, are you lost? What do you seek this December
sweater to keep you warm. I will stay with you to keep you company. In the morning, we will go back to your mother." In the morning, Chloe's worried mother found Chloe alive and happy. But Ermelinda had died frozen somewhere in the night. Ermelinda's spirit awoke in Hell seeing the Devil himself. She was frightened. "Where am I? And why am I here?" The Devil sneered saying “You are in Hell on your way to Heaven with all the other do-gooders, but I persuaded St. Peter to let me talk to you for a minute. Never have I've been so angry at someone. You've ruined all my hard work. The Mother, Claus, and family were all going to turn to a life of crime. But instead, Claus becomes a rich ship merchant because he got that toy. His family had a long healthy life. Terrible! The letter to Dr Taler helped him reunite with his lost sister. She then introduced him to his future wife and they had many children. But he was supposed to die alone with a large gambling debt gambling away because his life was so empty. And as far as Chloe— she was to die in the storm but instead she grows up to
become a rescuer of those lost in storms. Unbelievable! All because of you young lady." A flash of light appeared and Ermelinda was instantly in heaven. A tall smiling angel came over to her. All felt warm, safe, and happy. Suddenly Ermelinda woke up from her dream. She was late to her job at the IT Data Center. As she rushed to her job, she passed by a homeless man asking for help. She paused thinking what to do. "What did she do Mother?" the eager Robin asked. "Well what do you think she did? What would you do?" Tommy spent the afternoon between worms and peeping thinking of a reply.