The Mena weekly star., 1897-10-20
FLAMING BOTH SIDES.
The End of Moral Tale nnd an fcx-
 DInnatfon of n Historic Fact.

DIanattOn of n Historic Fact.
 Did you ever read Sunday school book 2" he asked at the club.
 ITO my sorrow. did," said one of the group; and most of the others thereof whispered sadly that they, too, had done so. For this was not a remarkable club, be it understood Men in this club didn't drink eight or nine rickeys in the course of before-dinner talk; there was no old-looling youth who could (and would, which was worse) reel off mile after mile of carefully bal anced sentences on fifth-second notice by the stop-watch. In this club the members were not all men about town or noted clubmen; this was just good club, and though it had some black sheep and sad dogs among its members, most of the men that composed it were gentlemen by manners and by instinct at all events. In that fact it differed from most clubs-at least if some news paper writers always write the truth.
 That being the state of things, it was not strange that most of the group had read Sunday school books.
 Well" said the first speaker, with some astonishment, I'm surprised twice, first, that the Sunday school hab it should have been so prevalent, and second, that the habit of telling the truth should still cling to so many of you"
 After the necessary supplies had been procured, he continued more carefully:
 Do you remember, in one of those books, the story of two carpenters em- ployed to build some little shed or other? The elder saw the younger blaming both sides of board, and went for him. 'Whadyer doin' that for?' he asked. Nobody sees that side Ac- cording to the story the young car penter explained that he did it because it was right because, even if only one side of the board was seen by men. a higher power could see both sides, and would judge him accordingly.
 "That story made an impression on meas a child; and when first struck out for myself I determined to plane both sides, so to speak. I got a job pretty quickly Cat the time said that ! had consented to accept a situation); really, my people got it for me. At any rate, I was soon in position to plane both sides. I did, most carefully; but in a mighty short time complaint was made that I wasn't doing my work | properly, and I was called up by the manager. I explained matters. 'Where'd you get that idea into your head?' he added, and, with much con- fusion, told him.
 Hook here, my boy he said I'm quoting him now), you've got to learn it some time or other, and think you're the sort of fellow that's worth learning it now. Did you ever hear the end of that story-that moral tale? I said that I hadn't. We'll said he, the con- l tractor came along and saw the Sunday school boy blaming both sides of the | blanks, and saw the old carpenter whom the lad had converted doing the same; and he had a fit right then and there; and if what he said was charged up in the hereafter against the Sunday school boy, who'd really made him say it, I wouldn't want to insure that boys soul against fire.
 Then, when he'd got calm, the con- tractor explained that these two men were on temporary job, and that they were just wasting good, rich time plan ing both sides; that what was needed was certain job done, and then more hands on another job and so on. And the manager explained to me that until l got orders l wasn't to plane both sides; and then he opened the door and said: 'Git! and, as I got, he kicked me; and I've remembered his advice ever since."-N. Y. Sun.
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