THE PARABLE OF A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3029, 29 April 1926, Page 2

THE PARABLE OF A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Now, in the clays of Georgius Stilibus and .of his councillors, a cry was heard in the land: “Go to, erect for us a Town Hall wherein the people of the Chained Triangle may lift up their voices in speech and song, likewise their feet in dance movements on joyful occasion. Moreover, a building to memorialise a great King.” And it came to pass that citizens did contribute in gold, yea, much line gold, gathered by one Georgius Colelms. And 10, a building of wood and iron was reared and a slab in the forefront thereof did bear witness to the rulers of those days. And the peoplo did assemble themselves together in the building of wood and iron and with loud noise of mouth and tlie clapping of hands and stamping of feet showed forth on oceassion joy or grief at wonderful displays of shadows depicted on a white sheet. Now, while the house was in darkness, young men and maiden, aye, and some of those upon whom the snow of many winters did show upon their locks, did clasp the hand of the other and squeeze. Thus doth the darkness work evil. Verily the years rolled on and the building did withstand the earthquake, storm and tempest, and brought joy and gladness to the people of the Chained Triangle. Now, in the. days of Markins Edwin ins, when night enveloped the earth and in the silent watches, John the watchman saw large tongues of flame leap out of the darkness and his eyes beheld the people’s edifice being consumed as in a fiery furnace. The faithful watchman compelled his logs (o move quickly to sound the alarm. Wihcroon the gallant lire warriors squirted much waler on the "fiery mass, hut !<>, the (lames did* consume the building even unto the memorial stone. And a cry went up: “Make search, and seize the bug.” Moreover, wise councillors did sit and bemoan the loss. But one who paid in silver for the sacrod embers did hold converse with the leader of a gallant army who thus spoke: “Behold, a tin whereof the top is much holed; therein the bug was placed which hath wrought this ruin.” Peru d veil lure, quoth the buyer of many embers, this tin shall speak forth as the oracle. And it came to pass that with due ceremony the tin was brought before the wise men and they commanded that it should give forth its secret. Fifty gold pieces were offered up in sacrifice, but the oracle spake not. Then said the wise men, let us call together such as are able to compel! speech. And so it came to pass that the tin was taken to the hall of justice and placed upon a pedestal jn the midst thereof. The men of justice and of the law, and lie that made discovery of the .tin, and lie that scraped the cinders, spoke mystic words which came to nought. But the oracle within (lie tin spake not. Then said they of the Council, let us construct a new temple of such material that fire burnetii not, and let us place the tin in the forefront of the building as a reminder to coming generations of the grievous sin of stabbing a condensed milk tin with a fork; instead of an implement made by skilled workmen and provided for that purpose.