OUR LIFE-TIME.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 77, 4 December 1851, Page 3

OUR LIFE-TIME.

(Translated from the German). When the world was created, and creatures assembled to have their life-time appointed the ass advanced, and asked how long he would have to live. "Thirty years," replied Nniurc; "will th:-t be agreeable to tliee?" " Alas answered ilis us*, "il is ;i ling while! llcmeinb.-r whnt :> wearisome existance mine will be: fr.»ni morning until night I shall have to liuar heavy burdens, dragging corn-sacks to the mill, that others may eat whi'e I shall linve no I'lirouraucinent, nor be refreshed with any thing hut blows and kicks. '.«ivt! me but a jiorlio i of that time I pray!" Nature was moved with compassion, nuil presented t > him but eighteen yiars. The as' went away comforted, and the dog rami; forward. " I low long dost thou require to live," asked Na'ure; " lliiity years were too many fur tin' use, «i|i i| lo u he content with tliem i" " Is it thy will that I should ?" replied the dog. " Think how much I have to run about, tnj I'eet will l'.ot last so long a time ; and «heu I shall have lost my voice for b.irjtina, and my teeth for biting, whnt else shall I be fit for hut to lie in a corner and giowl V Nature thought he was right and gave him twelve years. The ape then approached. ' Thou wilt doubtless, willingly live the thirty years," said nature; '• lliou wilt not have to labour like the a?s or the dog. Life will be pleasant to thee," "Ah no!" cri-'d lie ; so it may seem to others, but it will not be! Should puddings even rain down, I shall have no spoon ! I shall play merry tricks, and excite laughter, by my grimaces, and thin be rewarded with a sour apple. How often 30: row lies concealed behind a jest I I sha'l not bu ablo to endure for thirty yens." Katurc \va3 gracious, mid he received but trn.

At length came man, healthy mid strong anil asked the measure of hU days. " Will thirty years content t'lee?" "How short 11 time!" exclaimed man; " when I shall have built my hiiiisn, anil kindled a fire on my hearth I .shall have planted arc ahnut I j lilnoin and hear fruit —When life will sv. 111 most desirable, I shall die! Oil Nature! grant mea longer period !" " Thou sliidt have the eighteen years of ihe • < besides." " That is not yet enough," replied man. " Take likewise the twelve years ol the dog. " It is nnt yet sufficient," reiterated man; " give me niori-!" " f give thee, then the If n years of the ape : in vain wilt thou crave more!' 1 Man departed unsatisfied. Thus man lives seventy years. The fust thirty are his human yeais anil pass swiftly hy He is then heilthv and happy—he labors cheerfully, and rejoices in liis existence. The eighteen ye»is ol the nss «oine next, and burden upon burden is heaped upon him ; lie carries the corn that is to feed others; and blows and kicks aic the wages of his faithful s rvires. The twelve yearn of the dog follow, and he looses hi< teeth, and lies in a corner ■nil growls. Wlun tlieie are gone, the ape's ten years form the conclusion. Then man weak and silly, becomes the sport of children.

Jcs r .lunoiENT of an Idiot. In Paris a poor hungry wretch stnitl so long in a cook's shop that his stomach was satitfU'd with orijy the smell thereof. Tlio angry cook demanded of liim the price of his breakfast. fellow refused paying, nnd the controversy was referred to the decisi- n of I lie next man that should pass by who chanced to he the most notorious idiot in the city. On the relation of the matter he determined that the poor man's money should be put between two empty dishes, and that the cook should be recompensed with the jingling of it, as the poor fellow had been satisfied with the smell of his meat.