A Plucked Brand.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 14, 9 June 1911, Page 9

A Plucked Brand.

The Fable of the Young Man who fell into Evil Ways, but Who afterwards Found Grace.

By H. TILLMAN.

Once upon a time there lived a Young Man, who, by looking at this Scheme of Things we call our Glorous Civilisation decided that it was No for a Poor Man. This Young Man was a Mustier and he was likewise Very Young, so he said to himself, the Softest, Way to Get Rich is to separate some Bloated Capitalist from his Golden Quids. Ho got some Blank Cheques and a Pen and Ink, but a Merciful Judge said, that taking into account his Otherwise Blameless Life, he would be let out on Probation. He also advised him to leave oif the Pernicious Eabit of Cigarette Smoking which he said had doubtless Led idLim Astray.

This Young Man, however, did not Get Downhearted. He was a Persevering Young Man and soon got employment as Clerk with a Rich Importing Firm. He received only Thirty Bob a week but as he handled Much Money he stayed there Six Months. He left at the end of that time, but as his Description was telegraphed to Sydney, he came back accompanied by two Detectives. The Just Judge said he would put a stop to Young Men Robbing their Employers and handed him out Twentyfour Months in the Lytteiton Gaol to think it over.

He thought it over long and carefully in the silence of his cell and gradually the Great Truth dawned upon him "Rob the- Poor but don't rob tho Rich." When he left the Gaol he was a Reformed Young Man, a Brand plucked from the Burning. He is Rich now and owns Streets of Jerry built Houses and robs the Poor. He raises more Dust and Stink with his Motor Car than any other Road Hog. Ho has a Beautiful Wife, —is a Pillar of the Church and lias a Well Filled Waistcoat. He learnt his lesson.

Moral: Do not rob the Rich. They made tho Laws and took Good Care to Protect Themselves.