An Allegory

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 294, 18 October 1922, Page 7

An Allegory

"Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all these things shall be added unto you."—Holy Writ. "For God's sake talk like a man ot this world."—Falstaff.

There was once a people that lived in ex-le and in cruel bondage. And to certain among them there came a vision of their fatherland and the. city that was their birthright, a land flowing with milk and honey, a city glorious t o behold. Then their tongues sang songs of ami they told all the people of their vision and besought them to burst their bonds and hasten whilher they would guide them.

But the people were weary with the toll their oppressors laid upon them, and bowed down with chains. To some these were not fetters but fetishes, to most custom had reconciled them till they looked upon them a« nocessary safeguards, or as dress, or as cher'shed ornaments. So that many reviled these visionaries, preferring the evils they knew to good uncertain and afar off. Othand afar off. Others and afar off. Others were pleased, indeed, with their eloquence fcti'l their harmonies, but ranked them wJth mountebanks jand contortionist. A very few only pad heed io the*: , teachings or their promises. But these few_ when they had considered the songs and prophecies of ihe sivers, began to make ready for departure to the happy country which was to be theirs. And straightway they tonn& that many things were -wains and oxen, food and raiment, spades and mattocks, all the petty details of. , routine, and'no small measure of foresight, and organisation. So they sought first of .these things, and allcited to each his task and began, slowly and laboriously, to dig out a path towards the land of freedom and truth and all righteousness.

And they cried to the Wringers of the glad tidings that they should leave their singing and come down frouv 'he mountains, and toil with them in the dusty plain to make round the wheels and smooth the way. But the seere were" loth to leave their visions and ecstacies. Their thoughts soared and flew beyond the bounds cf time and space. They despised the slow steps of earth-bom-e travel. The hoarse cries of the gangers and wagoners, and the sweat and muclc in wh } eh laboured those below offended .their ears and eyes. They refused to-be troubled with mundane affairs and low material details, solacing themselves with their, golden dreams and ethereal music.

Meanwhile, in-tho blinding dust and deafening turmoil of their work those who wrought at preparing the way heard but faintly iand confusedly the singing that had at first inspired and directed them, and discords crept inj and misinterpretations: Bown there they had n 0 vision to guide them; and where there is no vision the people perish. So intent where they to make plain the pathway that they quite forgot all they had ever known -about whither they were going...nor did they evea Treatise tfcat they knew »ot tfce

w&iy. But as fHe sweat streaked the' griime on : theiv. Voices tlievniutfered i imprecations against is.ll impractic-' able idealists and all"- Utopian mm-1 feerise. The dreamers and singers grow old, and the visions and music fade, and \ fail them; ;and, despairing, they cry] that the only true gospel is despair..] The toilers grow stiff or are .lured.'j. away by the flesh-pots of Egypt. And the people are still the hapless cf the oppressor .like/that mighty one of old. "Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves." —A.C.H., in the "Labour. Leader."

Truths ar,e first clouds, then rain; j then harvests and floods.—-Beecher. ■ '