The Fool and the Wise Man.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 79

The Fool and the Wise Man.

One© upon a time -a Fool started out oa a journey. At first he was very happy and sang merrily as he skipped along, rejoicing with the birds and butterflies that flew' "among the flowers that bordered the way. Much to his surprise, as he journeyed farther and' farthe'r, the flowers and trees gave way to rocks and thorns, the breezes were no longer cooling, and the sun beatdown mercilessly upon him. The fool was hungry, thirety, and tired. The sharp stones out his feet and he was very able.

As he was plodding along vith hanging head ho heard a welcome sound of falling water, and. turning his head to see whence it came, he saw not far from the road a spacious garden, full of troei and fountains. "He <$<rn^a from the hard path, arid, going to the. gate .of the garden, pressed his face against the bars and peered in.- Seated in the "midst of the garden, upon a marble bench, was a beautiful ' woman,- who; beckoned- with her hand, "and- called id him," bidding 'him enter.- * . ; The weary 'Fool 'his hand upon tho latch and was about -to, obey b.6r summons, "when a Wise Man -appeared upon the road, who called to the Fool and 6aid', "Friend, do you know where you are going?" The Fool replied that he ,did not, whereupon the Wise Man epoke as follo*vs: "That garden which you are about to enter is the home of the Beautiful Woiran whom you see seated upon the bench. Her nami is Sin. She offers you rest and refreshment. If you enter, she will show you pleasures of which you have tievei dreamed ; but beware, as she will take youj soul as payment for her services."

Now, h-is soul was something that th« Fool was wont to set screat store by, co he returned to the highway, still longing for the pleasures "of the 'garden, but considering the "price" too great. The road seemed h'otljer- a-nd.;T.pngner than before; and, to make' matter worae, he was constantly" tormented by <ihe remembrance o! the garden, with its trees -end fountains. At last he could stand it no longer. F« quickly retraced "his steps, and before Jong stood once more at the gate of the garden. This time he did not hesitate, but opened the gate -and- entered. The Beautiful Woman wa6 still seated on the bench, and at her feet the Fool saw the Wise Man.-r: Life.

President's Carriage Ordered 4)n.

One of the older sergeants of the' local police force was talking over odd 'erperi--ei ces he had had while in the course <>l his duties.- Among the stories which he told was one which illustrated the demo« cratic ideas of President Grant. Tha sergeant, then a private, was on duty at the Baltimore and Ohio stations, one evening. Among his other duties he had to keep carriages from standing at the cur f directly in front of the station entrance, it being necessary to kee-o that place o'.'tx

lor carriages that were coming and going at that point. President Grant drove to the station to meet one of the incoming trains. While the" officer was in another place tho carriage stopped in front of the station. When the officer returned he noticed the President's vehicle standing there, and waited for it- to move along. .When it did not move on and no one alighted, the officer supposed that the President had gone into the station. "You. know as well as I do that you cannot staad there," said the officer to the President's coachman. "Do you -know whose carnage thie is? was the only answer of the man on .the box. . _

"That makes no difference. You must move." But there was no move on the part of the coaohman to stir from the place. « t "Hawkins," came a voice from inside, "did " you hear what that officer said?" ! And «ie head of tho President of the United Slates was poked out of the carriage window. The 'carriage moved. — Washington. Star. Olad I am Not Great. Napoleon died in exile on a sea-worn, "bit of • rock; * •• „ ,*• < „ - ->, Sreat Alexander boozed until he couldn't ■ stand the shock; 0. Cromwell'died heartbroken, though old Britain's . fat« he turned, . '» Lnd Alfred took a lashing when the woman's cakes he burned; Dur Dewey heard the praises from the universal throat, ■ : But when he would be President" he didn't get a vote; Lnd .when I think about these things, it makes ': me quite >Jat© ■ • ' To realise I show no signs of ever being • great. Ah, yes, I here thank heaven. Which mad« me rather small, That I really show no symptoms Of being great at" all. . f. Ctesar— he, the mighty — was murdered, as you know, knd his great rival, Pompey, likewise was treated so ; Old Hannibal took poison that gave him quite a pain, i And when that poison ceased to work he never . warred "again. , • . , ""— So if your, lot is lowly, and you're -really quite - obscure, ~ . • v And yon liold a dark suspicion that your name may set endure, Why, join with me in thankfulness, who share , your humdrum state, And thank the -Lord you show no signs of ever being great. Oh, exile is unpleasant, * And roison we a n hate, And murder must be painful— ' ; I'm glad I am not great. ' ' .