A TIMELY FABLE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 18, 2 May 1907, Page 37

A TIMELY FABLE

There is an exqwiisite fable in an old musty volume, and it is well worth recalling : Here stands an old oak, with its -great, brawnyarms, and which' storms and tempests have only rooted more firmly in the ca r th. Just beneath on a turfy knoll grew a little violet. ' Are you not ashamed of yourself ? ' said the oak one . day, ' when you look- at me, you little thing down there, when you see how large I am and how small ** you are ; how wide my branches spread, and how little space you occupy ? You will very soon be dead and gone, but I will live for -centuries and then my wood will make a _rniighty ship, that will float over the great deep.' But the violet was ha»nv and contented. It had hoi lofty ambitious thoughts, but was quite satisfied with its lot. , ' We are both,' replied the violet, ' where G-od placed us, and He has given you strength ' and me sweetness, ami I offer Him back mv fragrance and I am thankful. v True, I may soon die and be forgotten ; but I am well content. I have lived fragrant, and I hope to die fragrant, atod this is all I -desire.' -