A MODERN PARABLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1923, Page 2

A MODERN PARABLE.

OUR POLITICIANS. 1 By Safed the Sage in the Svdnov Herald.) A ci-rtiiia Ilian lnhourcd in tho division 10rmin.il of n grout railway. And til*' duly which was assigned unto this man was this, that lie should begin at the head of till l train, ami walk the length of it. and stoop down »ml strike every car wheel with a hammer. And ho did precisely as Iq, was told. For lie walked the length of every train, and struck every wheel on the right—side thereof, and then turned himself 7about and walked back upon the other side of the train, and the wheels upon that side did he strike in a like milliner. And this lie did quickly, so that he had it done by the time other men had put ice in the coolers and waste and dope in the boxes of Die axles.

“Xow it eomes to pass that after many years the Genera! Superintendent spake unto the President of the Road, and he said. Behold this mini hath been on our pay-roll for live and twenty years, and he hath never missed a day. Lot us celebrate, and recognise his faithfulness, and give him a gold watch, arid a pass for himself and his wife into California and hack, and a little purse of gold which he may blow in oil a good time.” “And tliov did even so. “And while the celebration was in progress, someone asked of him saving. ‘What is the reason why the wheels must he struck? And what is the occasion thereof?’ “And he said, ‘Thou ma.vest search me. I know nothing save that I draw my pay for hitting the wheels, and 1 hit them every time and 1 never miss a. wheel.’ “But he had never listened to the ring of the hammer that he might hear hear whether the wheel were sound or cracked, neither, had he known nor regarded. But he had done his jolt and drawn his pay for 2d years.

“Xow, when 1 heard this tale I said. That man is not so infrequent as some men might suppose. There are many who go through life in a like manner. They do the day's job and draw their pay and never think what it all is for. Yes. there might even he such meg as make speeches for a living, and there are such in many another vocation.

“And I prayed my God for all men, that they may labour, not only to strike tiie wheels, hut- to listen for till' ring. “For there are those who strike the wheels and go one. and if the train run through they say it is the result <il careful supervision, and if the wheel crack and tile train land in the ditch they s.av it is a mysterious Providence. “And there are surh men, not a few, who obtain their living by lalsnir no more intelligent than this, and some of them less continuous. And some of them travel on passes and receive the praise of men.”—(Adapted).