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finished。 They must wait till the next day。
Accordingly； bright and early the following morning； all three； with
one of the Kostkas' servants； drove out in a carriage over the Augsburg
road。 They had four good horses and they told their coachman not to spare
the whip。 They came to the inn where Stanislaus had spent the night。 They
questioned the landlord。
〃Have you seen a boy of seventeen； a Polish noble； pass westward
along this road yesterday or today？〃
But the landlord was shrewd； and though the whole matter was beyond
him； he fancied somehow that these eager folk were no great friends of the
boy who had lodged with him。 And as he trusted that boy and could
scarcely help being loyal to him； he shrugged his shoulders and answered：
〃How should I know？ So many travel this road。〃
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Then Bilinski described Stanislaus and his doublet of velvet and hose
of silk and jeweled dagger。 But at that the landlord shook his head in
denial。
〃I have seen no such person as your graces describe；〃 he said。
Bilinski called out to the coachman：
〃Drive on。 We have nothing to learn here。〃
But Paul said： 〃NQ let us turn back。 He cannot have walked this far in
one day。 We must have passed him on the road。〃
〃Perhaps you could not have walked so far；〃 said Bilinski； with a sneer。
〃But Stanislaus could。 Drive on！〃
Forty miles or more out of Vienna； they saw a boy trudging ahead of
them； in a rough tunic； rope…girdled； with a staff in his hand。 At the noise
of the hurrying wheels the boy glanced back； then quickly turned up a lane
which there entered the road。 He did not look in the least like a nobleman's
son； and the carriage passed the bottom of the lane without so much as
slacking speed。
Stanislaus ran up the lane until he came to where it ended at a rough；
brawling stream。 Without a moment's hesitation he put off his shoes；
tucked up his tunic； and began wading in the course of the stream。 The
water was cold； the sharp stones in the bed of the stream bruised his feet；
at any moment he might fall into a deep hole and be drowned。 But he
splashed and stumbled ahead； as fast as he could go； praying to his
guardian angel to have care of him。 A little farther； he knew； the highway
crossed this stream by a bridge； and there he could leave the water and
regain the road。
The carriage meantime kept on and came to this bridge。 But Paul had
been thinking of the young fellow who took to the lane when he saw the
carriage approach and a shrewd suspicion came into his head。
〃Did you see that boy who ran up the lane？〃 he cried at length to
Bilinski。 〃I believe it was Stanislaus。〃
〃But he was dressed like a peasant；〃 said Bilinski。 〃And Stanislaus had
on a handsome suit。〃
They debated for a time； but Paul prevailed。 Round they turned and
drove furiously back to the lane。 But as the driver tried to turn his horses
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
into it； the animals reared and balked and refused to enter。 Blows and
curses were showered on them； they merely stood and trembled； no efforts
could urge them into the lane。 Then the driver grew afraid； and cried out：
〃My Lord Paul； we cannot go into this lane。 And before God； I have
fear upon me！ Never have the horses acted this way。〃
And indeed fear seized them all。 They saw the hand of God in this
strange obstinancy of their beasts。 Even Kimberker cried the pursuit。
〃Fear God！〃 he said。 〃For this is no common mishap！〃
And when they turned the horses' heads again toward Vienna； the
animals snorted and pranced and went very willingly。
And so； when Stanislaus came to the bridge； the highway was clear。
After a look about； he put on his shoes； gripped his staff afresh； and took
up again cheerily as ever his thirty miles a day to Augsburg。
Day after day； tired and footsore； he told off the long miles； begging
his food and lodging as he went； fearless and happy； praying like an angel
of God as he walked along。
Many were kind to him for the brave； bright spirit that shone out in his
face。 Many remembered those words of our Lord； 〃Whatsoever you have
done unto the least of these my brethren； you have done it unto me；〃 and
willingly sheltered the boy and gave him to eat。 Sometimes he turned into
the fields beside the road and slept through the warm August night beneath
the open sky。 Whenever he came to a church in the morning； he heard
Mass and received Holy Communion； for he started out each morning
fasting。 And on the fourteenth day he reached Augsburg。
What happened there； we shall see in another chapter； and how within
three weeks this smiling boy turned his face southward and tramped
another eight hundred miles on foot to Rome。 But just that will show you
something of the spirit of Stanislaus； the spirit of a hero。 All that a knight
might do out of love for his lady； he did out of love for God。 He really
loved God with a sort of fierce intensity。 And he wanted to show his love
in deeds； just as we want to show our love for a person by doing
something； by giving something。 God had given him everything； he would
give God everything： that was the whole of his life。 And with that
generosity went a fine common sense。 He was not rash or headlong； acting
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first and thinking afterward。 He reckoned things out calmly and sensibly；
and then went ahead with a pluck and determination that nothing in the
world could stop。
God asked a fearfully hard thing of him； to leave his people； his home；
to set out afoot on an enormous journey； to undergo no end of hardships
and humiliations； to live in a strange land； among strange people。 And he
did it； did it smilingly； joyfully； with a simple； quiet bravery seldom if ever
matched by any other boy in the world。
The one thing that staggers us is his reason for doing it； his great love
for God。 And that is because we have not got； what we could easily get；
his