The Big Man

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 2, 10 January 1923, Page 11

The Big Man

In the bouse of the Big Man a Kor.g heralded the Great Silence. He gathered the staff together ou the lawft, i-jifi r rood bareheaded in the centre ot th? human' ring. And nor just for the prescribed two minutes; a full three minutes passed before ho raised his head. A soft i'gb't.iil UP his usually cold grey eyes, and bis "Amen" shook. "Xov; ii few. wonts," lie said. "On U'i-;• auspicious day, when 'we e.k'Ci. iv iknnks.uiving for tlie Great ]>;•!]• .-ranee, let us remember 'in oar prayee; the glorious dead, the brave who y.-.we tlieir all, and whose hero-L-,in aud devotion saved us and ours from the'terrible fa to which threat en.-: ed to overwhelm us." liis voice, rang with patriotic feellug. It quivered a little a's he spoke on aad dealt wiili the horrors of war, with the trials of our armies, with the 'riumph of right over might-, etc. "Carry on/ 'he said at last. As .chairman, he addressed the annual mec.hiK of shareholders the same day. It gave him great pleasure. etc., to report still further progress. Xcl vviiheiaaeding increased cost, of raw material;';- owing to the war, inflated salaries and- numerous outgoings liever experienced in peace time, the outlook had never been brighter. Tha war had found their factories well equipped for supplying the nations demands, and on that day of eonir memoraiinn ibey (tbo shareholders.*) tniebt well feel proud of tbo part tho concern had' played in bringing about the victory.: Then the'fi.curgß. The dividend re-comine-ndoTt 'was TO per cent. The Kig 'Man. motored home, flushed and full.'and fell asleep in front of. his library"J'ro. "He dreamed that he was by tbe ! Cenotaph in Whitehall. ("tame the Great' Silence. . v -.' Suddenly,' a bugler, lad stepped out and sounded.- ike "Fall in" for all iho.'e' who. having been enriched by tbe war, were will ins - to prove their patriotism by giving tbeir profits to the' 'dependents of the dead. - Hypnotised by tbe bugler's searching eye, the Big Man advam ed,~-and —rolled off his chair. "Gracibu>l" he said. "How strange! Must be tlie. port —too heavy." And he tried a .whisky and soda. —"£>aily Herald." . -';