The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23
THE MESSAGE OF THE ROSE
BY THE BISHOP OF RIPoN, ENGLAND.

The August sun was shining. The
rich yellow corn was growing golden In
the sun. The heavy ears swayed to and
fro in the breeze as if they knew their I'M
portance. If they felt proud OF their
fullness and beauty can hardly wonder,
for the farmers were constantly coming
and looking at the corn. field; and as they
leaned over the gate, under the shadow
Of great elm tree, they would praise
the wheat, and say that they had never
seen finer wheat before. l do not Won
der, then, that the corn-feld grew proud.
Close by the corn-field was meadow,
and at the corner of the meadow there
stood, as 1 have said, fine elm tree
The cattle had been feeding in the mea-
dow, but now that the sun was hot, they
we're glad to gather for shelter under the
shade of the elm tree. The sun grew
hotter and hotter; and the cattle kept
more closely under the shelter of the
tree; and the wheat ears grew richer and
browner, and the corn field felt prouder
and prouder.
And at last, after the fashion OF con-
ceited people, the corn-feld began to talk
in that sort of complaining way which is
only another way of saying bow much
they have to do, and how important they
are.
'It is hot, hard work bringing all these
-, .r,kI 4
am sure, except for the good it does, 1
should not take the trouble; but, of
course, one must not always be thinking
OF self"
EYES," said the elm tree, at is some
consolation that we are not useless in the
world"
"Well," returned the corn-feld, "of
course your case is different. You are not
called upon to toll as l am; you can have
little idea of the hard work that food
producing plants have to go through.
almost envy-only that l like being of
use-I almost envy your tranquil life.
You are free from the anxiety of having
others dependent on YOU"
II don't know about that" said the
elm, 81 am not altogether so useless. 1
have my work to do as we'll as YOU"
But you don't mean to say that for a
moment your work is as important as
mine. Why, what would the village
yonder do if 1 did not work as 1 am do
ing? Half of them look to me for their
food"
"That is true" said the elm, "but these
cattle would perish in the heat, and then
the men and women would starve unless
I gave the pleasant shelter Of my strong
arms"
az don't think much OF that" replied
the corntield. "Shelter Is nothing COM
pared with food, and pleasant shade is a
give for the use of man. To my mind
you are not of much more use than the
roses in the garden yonder. What do
you think, little rose?"
az think-oh, / don't know much
about such. things, but think that we
all have some work to do, and that it is
not much matter who does most, so long
as We each do our own"
Then the cornfeld and the elm tree
laughed, but the rose blushed at the long
speech which she had made. But she
ceased to blush when the cornfeld and
the elm tree joined together to deride
her. 1 think they were glad to have
some one to make fun of or to quarrel
whit saved them from quarreling with
one another, and, to tell the truth, they
we're a little afraid OF each other. But
neither of them were afraid of the litele
rose, and so when they joined against her
they both thought themselves very cour-
ageous in attacking her as they did.
"What did you say?" cried the elm
tree. We all have work to do?' /
wonder, you foolish, weak little flower,
what work you have to do? i,-
"Yes," echoed the cornfeld. "But it
is just like these conceited Aowers-they
think they are great people in the world"
"No; they don't live long enough to be