Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-05
Rock Time,
Tree Time
BY ADA PATTERSON.

Vacation time is school time. for
grown-up pupils
We step off the returning train,
hurry home, unpack bags and trunks,
say the usual. "I'm glad to be home
and mean it. Outwardly we are
browip Of skin, Of more sprinslikc
tread. with more yigor Of manner and
speech. Inwardly whst'
Are we wiser for that vacation,
kinder for il. sentler in speech and
broader and deeper Of Understandings
Has nature, to whom we have been
close, taught us her invaluable lessons
or has she notl We have watched
the brown rock Withstand the on
slaught OF the waves, and have seen
the green tree bend its graceful top
to the wind. What have they
taught us1
There are times when every human
being should be a rock. times TO be
like the tree. When our principles
are assailed we should stand firm as
the rock. as silent, as strong. When
the wind Of authority Or Of some nom
essential matter blows we should yield
IS gracefully as that tree Of our admit
ration.
A man invites a business man to
talk little matter over at luncheon.
1t was clever Of him to propose 1
meeting Of that kind. Had he called
on the man in the mans office 10
make such a proposition he would
have run the risk Of being kicked out.
But you may not insult the man who
is paying for your meal. and the guest
must listen with what patience he
may. Outside on the street. the
luncheon being eaten, the bill having
been paid and the relation OF host and
guest having ceased, II Is time for the
man who had been guest to turn
rock.
The man with whom he has eaten
filet and mignon and green corn, let
iuce salad and custard pie or black
berry pudding, has made him A shady
proposition, The excellence OF the
luncheon could not disguise that fact.
he has asked the man who sat across
the table from him to commit dis
honest act.
To be sure he cloaked ii in terms
Of business. He told him tricks 81
that kind we're turned by millionaires
every day. but II the listener had
clear brain It could not be befogged
BY such reasoning. He knew he was
asked to enter into crooked deal. 1t
was time to be rock. Figuratiyely
he should stand still, as still as the
uninoyed rock on yonder unyielding
shore. Literally he should look the
man through, should say: Il can't for
a moment consider such plan. Good
day. II the man rises to follow him.
there is policeman on The next
block, or he can be found by diligent
search, Leave the man OF turpitude
to him, II is rock time.
That man goes home from his Of
flee that evening. He greets his IN
valid wife. Or, II she isn't an invalid,
she is tired enough to think she is,
Us Just the evening to set out those
plants at the corner of the house,
she tells him, Objections spring 10
his lips. thick as leaves sf yalIam-
brosa He is tired. TOO That shady
proposition made at luncheon had ex-
asperated him There is no more
firing agent in the world than anger,
There had been other stings and ar
rows in the day. Besides he never
wanted vines planted about the house.
II isla new house aud vines make
the wood decay. He IL ready for ar
guinent. His nostrils swell with In
dienation He opens his lips. He
closes them. He asks where the
plants are. He takes off his coat and
goes 10 his task. And he Is right. He
has remembered that it is tree time,
time to be like a tree. Those vines
mean great deal to his wife. They
matter little to him. No principle Is
al stake, No shadow threatens his
household nor his personal honor. II
Is. time to yield. No longet is he
rock, but tree.