And they were right, for Lanis now started to wander through the world and find out how cruel and hard it can be to those who have sensitive souls and childlike faith. He was full of belief in human goodness and kindness of heart, for he had received nothing else but kindness in his country home; but now his mother was dead, the spell was broken, and he set forth to find the gift of happiness. Many months he wandered, singing his songs, sometimes sad, sometimes joyful, but in all there sounded the weary note of longing for what he was seeking. “Where can I find happiness?” he asked an old beggar who lay by the wayside. “In the Kingdom of Shadows,” replied the old man, without raising his eyes. So Lanis pursued his weary way over mountains, plains, and seas, always asking his one question, and always receiving the same answer. Once he came to a great city, and sang in the streets so beautifully of the green country and silver moonlight, that all the tired citizens crowded around to hear. A man who was among the crowd came up to him as he ceased his song and touched him on the sleeve. “Come with me,” he said eagerly, “and I will make you rich.” “I don’t want to be rich,” replied Lanis. “That is a foolish thing to say,” said the man, who had a crafty face; “gold is the finest thing in the world.” So oily was his speech that he persuaded Lanis to come with him, and took him to a great hall to sing, where he stood at the door himself, making the people pay broad gold pieces to hear this wonderful poet who sang about such noble things. Lanis felt a longing for wealth in his heart, and sang about the power of gold to make or mar life, of the good it could do, of the evil that arose through its misuse; and all the people in the hall, mostly fat, wealthy merchants, chuckled with delight. “Ah! this is a sensible fellow,” they said to each other; “he sings about sensible things.” “I think his song about the beautiful green woods was finer,” sighed a poor boy who listened outside, but then no one took any notice of such a silly observation. When Lanis had done singing, he came out of the hall, and found the man who had tempted him with wealth sitting before a table heaped high with gold. “Is all that mine?” asked Lanis in a breathless tone. “All that yours!” echoed the man in an indignant voice; “no, indeed—it’s my money—here is your share,” and he pushed two pieces of gold towards Lanis out of the great heap. “But I earned it,” said Lanis indignantly; “I earned it with my voice.” “And did I do nothing?” cried the man angrily. “Do you think I can give my time and services to you for nothing? I should think not. If I hadn’t put you into this hall to sing, and charged for people to hear you, why, you would have been singing for nothing in the streets, instead of getting two gold pieces.” “But you have a hundred gold pieces.” “Of course—that’s my share.” “I did half the work, and I ought to have half the money.”