The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-26

er-rock, where nothing, abso-
H. lutely nothing, could be seen,
because it was 500 feet deep
under the grass and the flowers and
the sunlit plain and the hills, and
where nothing could be heard, or
ever, ever had been heard, except the
sound of waters rushing hither and
thither and up and down, each search
ing for place of escape, three pieces
of iron ore sat and talked to each
other.
Their conversation was exceedingly
intelligent; for two of them talked
about themselves, and if person can
not talk intelligently about himself it
isn't likely that he can ever talk in
telligently about anything else.
Really" said the top piece of ore,
really, it is quite ridiculous. Here
am l, the finest quality of magnetic
iron, as | think | have told you be-
fore, wasting my talents in holding
the crushing weight of the earth on
my shoulders. / shudder to imagine
what would become of the rest of
you if my wonderful strength were to
give out. 1t is awful"
<AS lOl LldIy Sd1Q l1IC pIC(G vi OlC
just below, Il am holding my share.
Sometimes ! feel sure that | will have
to yield just a bit; but if | did,. do
you know what would happen? There
would be an earthquake and houses
and churches would fall helter-skel-
ter. That is what would happen.
But l agree with you that we are
wasting our time. l have within me
the ability to do great deal for the
world; it is something that cannot be
done in a dark place like this, where
there is not even toad to admire one
or to learn from the wisdom that one
has acquired by steady thought
through the ages"
The third piece of ore said nothing
1t was the lowest of all, and it was
actually holding all the weight. The
great pressure had made it so strong
and solid that it was really the very
finest ore of all. But it lacked the
power of expression.
1t thought, however, that if it could
speak as eloquently as its two friends
it would declare that it was quite
sufficient for piece of iron ore, how
ever excellent, to sit tight and do its
duty, whether it be in the blackness
of mine or the sun of the upper. air.
But it did not say so; and the other
two pieces continued to wish for de-
liverance and chance to show their
quality. 4
Suddenly one day they heard new
sound; the first sound except the rush
ing of waters that they had heard
from the time they were born. They
wondered what it was, but they could
not guess, for, of course, they could
not recognize the sound of pickaxes,
since they had never heard of such
things.
That is what it was, however; and
every day it became louder, until, all
at once, one day there came the loud
were blinded by the first beam of
light.
"Hurrahl" cried voice. "We have
struck the finest strata of ore that
ever saw!"
"a strata" said the top ore to it.
self. $50 that is what | am. Thank
goodness, I always knew that / had
talent"
But soon all thoughts were driven
out of its head, for a terrible pain
shot through its very center. That
was steam drill, boring chug! chug!
into it.
"I am afraid that the world is com
ing to an end" said the ore to its
two friends, who were still undis.
turbed in the lower layers of the
mine. 81 have such a violent pair
that I am sure things cannot last"
But the drill stopped after a time