The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-26

food, and if, secondly, it were posi-
BILE to buy food even if they had the
money. They then withdrew to live
on their incomes.
The Emperor tried everybody he
knew-statesmen and diplomats, and
at last even the court jester But none
Of them could imagine how one could
feed people.
So he gave it UP and issued procla-
nations. These did not, however,
provide many meals in the Empire.
All this time the third and lowest
piece of ore, patiently supporting the
weight of the earth, sat and wished
that it could do something noble and
romantic like its two friends. And
one day, when the people of the world
were SO hungry that they were talk
ing OF eating the Emperor himself,
men tapped its broad back, and said:
Goodness! Here is better layer
of iron than any that ever came out
of the mine. What fine thing this
would have been for our cannon.
Then we should have won the war;
for this surely would not have crack
ed"
The piece of ore felt its rusty red
heart leap at the words; but the next
moment it was overcome with disap-
pointment, for the voice went on:
'Well, there is no need for cannon
now. But we can make this into steel
for ploughs."
"Alas!" said the ore to itself,
ALAS! My brilliant friends were right
when they said that | was dull. |
shall never become anything now, but
must burrow blindly into the earth"
Still, the ore did not forget its duty,
though it was sadly disappointed. 1t
stretched itself and became timber
and hard, elastic and stiff by turns un-
der the hammers and rolls and fires
that men applied to it, until it was
the most perfect of steel; so perfect
that it was put on exhibition, and men
came from all countries to study it.
Even the Emperor came to see it,
because his Professor of Metallurgy
told him that the country had regain
ed its cid place in the industrial world
by turning out such a magnificent
piece of metal.
The ore that-was now steel did not
become vain, for it still thought of its
companions who had become writer's
and military characters, while it was
only good enough for farming.
"Such ploughshares were never
seen," said people, when the steel was
at last fashioned into more than ten
thousand implements. 1T is we'll, in
deed; for we need strong ploughs to
break up the withered land, that is
full of cannon balls and stones from
the ruined walls"
1T is true that we are but plough
shares" said the biggest ploughshare
to the rest, 'but it is our duty. See
that you do your best"
"How we wish we were pens or
cannons,' replied the ploughshares in
chorus. "But there is no use in la
as it has never been furrowed before.
'Ah. children said the earth. 81
have been waiting long for you. Drive
in deep and wipe out the cannon scars
and the misery of the battle. OF all
my children, you are the only ones
who will do anything glorious"
What" said the ploughshares all
together, SO that the farmers said
Hear them ring"
What they cried. 1--WE thought
that we were the stupid ones. Did
not the other two ores become writ
ers and military persons?"
eyes," said the earth. But the
pens only talked and the cannon only
destroyed. You are going to pro-
duce"
"Hurrah!" said the ploughshares,
cutting the earth swiftly into long,
straight burrows. "Hurrah!"
And they have never said another
word since; for they are so busy do
ing things that they have never again
had time to waste in conversation.
JULIUS MULLER.