The monk said, “Adopt an orphan, and then you will have your own child. But you must never cast the adopted child out of your home!”
The Johnson family lived in the suburbs and had been known as hereditary tailors for generations. The wealthy citizens of the city were their clients, allowing the Johnsons to enjoy a prosperous lifestyle. No one knew how they managed to obtain such high-quality fabrics during times of scarcity, as they kept their secrets closely guarded. It was clear that only those who were financially well-off could afford the services of such skilled masters.
In the post-war years, a young woman with a small child came to the Johnsons. The woman was utterly exhausted and asked them to provide some food. It was apparent that the lady of the house did not see it as appropriate to associate with beggars, so she turned the woman away. The young woman sat by their fence, and her child’s cries grew fainter until the child succumbed to death.
The girl remained by the Johnsons’ fence until evening, clinging to her child’s lifeless body without letting go. No one knows where she went afterward, but eventually, the Johnsons began to experience a series of misfortunes too numerous to recount.
People whispered that God had punished them for not helping the destitute girl. All the women in the Johnson family gave birth to stillborn babies. Even if a child survived, they would fall gravely ill later on.
The parents cherished their daughter, Emily, above all else. They had three children in total, but their sons died in infancy.
They scrutinized Emily’s suitors closely, hoping for a future son-in-law of good standing.
After a paramedic suitor became abusive towards Emily, her parents insisted she end the relationship immediately. They disapproved of her math teacher as well. The Johnsons dreamed that their daughter would find a gentleman from another place to escape the never-ending family legend that haunted them.
Emily’s grandfather longed for her to marry a lawyer, judge, or another esteemed individual.
“What about love?” Emily joked.
“A man truly loves only money, and can grow accustomed to everything else!”
“Did you love Grandma?”
“My wife came from a wealthy family. Money marries money!”
Emily ended up marrying the son of a high-ranking official from a neighboring town.
Her family was pleased with such a match. The young couple settled into a new home. They had everything they could wish for except children. Emily visited many doctors, but all of them were baffled.
One day, a woman advised Emily to visit a monastery where an old monk was known to help childless couples. Despite not believing in miracles, the Johnsons decided to give it a try. Emily and her parents explained their plight to the old man. The monk listened, aware that his visitors had not divulged the whole truth, as they kept the sin hidden even from themselves. After hearing them out, he said:
“You must make a donation.”
“How much do we need to pay?” the father asked.
The monk smiled gently.
“It’s not about money. The offering isn’t material.”
“We’re willing to cover any expense,” he replied.
“Adopt an orphan. Then you will have your own child, but you must never drive the adopted child from your home!”
The monk spoke with a deep sadness, but he knew he was right to offer such advice.
The Johnsons pondered for a long time whether to follow the monk’s counsel. Eventually, they chose to adopt a two-year-old boy.
When the boy turned five, Emily became pregnant, and the Johnsons began to insist that the boy be sent back to the orphanage. Emily’s husband disagreed and pleaded for the boy to stay, but Emily was resolute.
Just as it was time for her to give birth, she told her husband that while she was in the hospital, her father would take the boy back to the orphanage. Her husband was against it and begged her not to do it.
The following morning, as Emily descended the stairs, she fell and lost the baby.
She blamed her adopted son for her misfortune and ordered her husband to send him away immediately. She screamed that she despised the child because he had taken her son from her. Without another thought, her husband packed his belongings and the boy’s things and moved in with his own parents. He later married another woman, who bore him two sons. The parents grew to love the adopted boy and called him their “guardian angel.”
Meanwhile, the Johnsons blamed their former son-in-law for all their troubles, claiming he had abandoned his wife and taken their son away. Emily wept, but he showed no mercy.
