The Little Thing that Mattered Most.
Maoriland Worker, Volume 8, Issue 342, 12 September 1917, Page 4
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The Little Thing that Mattered Most.
Once upon a time, all the "Little- Things that Mattered" iheld a meeting, to sto what wore the things that really did matter and what things mattered most. There wore bo many little things then that had big ideas of their great importance that to tell all their names would take too long, so I will have to content myself with j-uet telling you what Bomo of them said. "For myself," «srid the Diamond, "I am a gam of the firet water." Tho Dowdrop was heard to laugh, and the Diamond sparkled with fire. Everything that looks liko a diamond is not ono by any moatib. "There's nothing quite so hard," said the Dowdrop. "For myeelf I can soften a he-art of stone." "You do get at tho heart of things," said a Grain of Wheat, "But what has all this to do with the matter wo are dealing with—wo have met to decide. What are the things that really matter and what things matter most?" "Now, the diamond is the greatest value in the smallest space," eaid tho Diamond. "A diamond is nothing without a gold setting," said a Little Nugget. "Gold is tho standard of valuo." Gold is all that matters in this world," ■ "What about mc?" said a Scrap of Paper. "I represent a million of money." "Or mc?" said another Piece of Paper." "I'm a Treaty binding nations to a common purpose. There are ■ five kings' signatures on mc, .to say nothing of tho names of tho men who drew mc up." "After all," said a small Bnrrel, oi Whisky, "Wherever men meet together, there am I in spirit and fellowshiip; all meu bow to mc, aooner or later, and therein lies a. reason why you little things of little consequence, should be advised) by mc." . i "Not mc, by any means?" said ajKeg of Gunpowder; "I could blow youj all to nothing. If any thing matters fierc, I do; and it's just as well you should know." "Water, 'damps your fire," said /the Dewdrop. "You damp everything," answer* tne Gunpowder. "I've m good miud-~- f t> "Don't get heated, or you'll expl ie, said the Dewdrop. However, the advice came too ate, for th© nest instant an electric ei*rk touched the Barrel of Gunpowder (and that and the Barrel of Whisky exploded in company. I Immediately there was a rush up ftorn some fairy retreat of tho Queen o£ Fairyland and all her t-übjects. t "Dear mc, whatever is the matter? asked the Queen. .' The Little Things that Ihnd remained on the spot told the Fairy Queen all about the meeting and th© differences it had caused. "But what was the quarrel about? "Oh, about nothing at all," said) tho Dewdrop, "merely what little thing matters most." _ . "Iβ it a riddle?" asked the Fairy Queen, "Not to mc," eaid the Dewdrop. "Water is the thing that is most needed everywhere." "Bread is the 'Staff o£ Life, , " said the Grain of Wheat. "And wheat ia only gross, said a Blade of Grass. "And grass grows out of tho eartn, said a Grain of Earth. "Dear mc," said the Fairy Queen, "Why will you quarrel about what does not matter. Everything matters or frothing matters. It is just because little Things are thrown into eqwi other's company, that you are ablo Jt° do anything. In thie world and •Iβ life, it is tho Little Things that matft l '' and the Little Things you cannot ;■§» that matter most. Nobody knows where I come from or where I got" to, still, hero I am, doing my little best for every ono who «sks for my help. My name is Eairy Good Heart, and I answer to my name whenever I am called. When I am'called upon I bring all my Fairy Folks with mc so we can all work toeetber and put things right with a eood heart. Now, Little Things, listen to mo: Let the Earth, the Dewdrop and the Grain of Wheat get together, and in a very ehovt time they will grow big and strong, and all tho world will bo ready to work in their service, to harvest the golden .grain that means life to the world of men. The thing that really.masters, the Thing That Matters Mos£ tho thing that makes for all good, the thing the whole wide world is flaking for, is a little word of four letters Big "ion and little children work and live for it. It is something -it ie nothing—it is everything. Nothing comes into the world without it. It is tho one thing that grows by giving itself away. Whoever keeps it for himself, loses it. You cannot buy it or sell it. If you have got it, it cannot be stolen. If you gi™ it it returns to you uvuch more than when you gave it '""What is it? What is it?" asked all the Little Things, together. "Just L-O-V-K," said Fairy Good- H "Every little thing matters; nothing is nothing, everything is eomething; but Jhen nothing believes itself to be something, you can be quite sure it is nothng-that matters much." So said the Fairy Jester, a little merry fellow of Cap and Bells, and he cast a ade Since at the Gold Nugget and the Diamond, who were trying to turn up the noses they hadn't got. That moment, Dan D™ 3 mother came into the work shed and saw the two boys in the aeroplane, and mvited Sviliy Why into the house to tea.
