A FABLE.

New Zealand Tablet, 28 June 1917, Page 53

A FABLE.

No parish affair was ever held without the assistance of John Jones. When he was not Secretary, he was Chairman; and when he was not Chairman, he was Secretary or Treasurer. He was a Pillar of the Church. . The Do-Nothings saw much to Criticise in John’s activities. He had a Swelled Head, they said. Likewise, he was Too Officious. And Besides, Why didn’t He give Somebody else a Chance ? John’s Activities cost him Time and Money. Nobody Ever Thought of That! Do-Nothings seldom doThink. And so they Merrily Beat the Anvil. Merrily? Verily! The Chorus Drew until it Reached John's Ears. He learned that He Thought He Was Somebody; even though he knew he was only an ordinary fellow. •

He had been Trying to'Get Out of Soliciting Ads for Programmes, Donating Prizes for Euchres, Selling Tickets for Entertainments, Distributing Window Cards, and Such, for some time. He Smiled Inwardly. The Wife Had Been At Him, too. Two and Two Make Four: That Settled It. At the next Parish Affair he was listed as a Member of the Floor Committee. For the first time in Five Years he had a Good Time at a Parish Affair. His Wife did, too. The attendance was somewhat smaller than usual but that was on Account of the War. The programme lacked few of its usual ads; but Times Were Hard. A few of the Handsome and Costly Prizes were missing; but—well, If They Don’t Want to Give,. You Can’t Force Them. So Chanted the Parish Blacksmiths. Some One was Missing; that was the trouble. The other Active Workers Knew it. The Pastor Knew it. Jones Knew it, but he was too Decent to Say Anything. The Knockers Knew it, but they Would Not Admit It. MORAL.Anybody can Swing a Hammer, but it Requires Brains to Produce Results beyond Mere Heat. —Brooklyn Tablet.