The Two Graves

A wise old oak tree once grew over two graves out in the old graveyard. The one grave was always happy and joyful as people often came to adorn it with flowers and prayers. The one next to it was always sad and dilapidated. It was left alone in a state of neglect as no-one ever came to visit it. It was covered with weeds and moss and was in sorry state indeed, left alone and discarded forever it seemed. 'Why are you always so happy and gay?' asked the oak tree of the joyous grave. 'I am the final resting place of a good and noble soul whom all loved dearly.' replied he. 'And why are you always so sad and lonely?' inquired the wise old tree from his neighbor. 'A bad and evil man lies buried here forever. That is why I am left alone and in dismay always.' replied the sad and neglected grave in turn. 'But I don't see the good or bad in either of you,' said the wise old tree, 'As both your occupants are dead and passed away, and in death there is no difference between the two of them.' And so, as the autumn passed it would cast its lovely brown and yellow leaves all over both of them leaving them both lovely and scattered all over with golden leaves of true beauty for all the world to see and love. It is true that in the end we are all made equal in death and the glory of the afterlife. Death makes angels of us all although we were no saints in this life. Rest In Peace.