Long time ago, a boy named Epithemeus made friends with a girl named Pandora. She was a friendly and good-natured girl but was extremely curious about everything. He took her around his house and showed her all his toys and other things.
Her eyes fell on a chest that lay in one corner and she asked, “What’s that? What is inside it?”
Epithemeus told her, “It’s something secret that my father has asked me not to open. So, I don’t know what’s inside it.”
“Who gave it to your father? Where has it come from?” insisted Pandora.
“It’s secret; I have already told you!” said Epithemeus, “Don’t ask me any silly questions. Let’s go out and play!”
It was a wonderful time for the children with nothing to trouble them: schools and studies, examinations and mathematics, history and chemistry! No one scolded them and they ate and drank and sang and danced all day. No one fought or quarrelled and no one even sulked.
But Pandora was still curious to know just what was there in that mysterious chest. She kept asking Epithemeus about it again and again.
He told her that it had been left at the door by a person who wore a long cloak and a cap with wings and had a staff with two serpents coiled on it. He had said that no one must open it till he came to fetch it.
Epithemeus went out to play, leaving Pandora inside. She kept looking at the chest made of polished wood with beautiful figures of men and women, children and flowers all over it. In the centre there was a most beautiful face carved on it.
Pandora heard a sweet voice telling her, “You are not like Epithemeus! Open the lid!”
And Pandora looked here and there, and undid the fastening on the lid. Suddenly, there was a dark cloud in the room as the lid opened; there was a sound of thunder! Hundreds of ugly evil things flew out of the chest.
“What have you done!” yelled Epithemeus who had just returned to the room. The creatures stung him and Pandora. They ran around trying to eascape.
These were all the Troubles of the world–anger and envy, jealousy and sorrow, illnesses and evil! Pandora wept. Just then, she heard a soft tap on the chest, and a voice said, “Let me out! I can help!”
As Pandora opened the lid, a sunny little fairy flew out and kissed away her pain and Epithemeus’ too.
“I am the Hope,” said the fairy, “I shall always be there for anyone who is suffering!”
