The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-08-04
THE PARABLE OF THE CANDI.
DATE AND THE HONEST.


sance to those that held Office, an
to seek any crumbs that might ia
from their tables. And he went |
$ unto the highest place, and when h
D had looked upon one that sat therei
he marveled and humbled himself.
r But in his heart he said. "Yes
verify, if this crook ever dieth or hi
: time Of office should ever expire. tbi
= chair and this desk and these cuspi
, doris and this booze toter and thes
hunkies and these hangers-on an,
, these courthouse buns and this dig
nifty and ease and idleness, and eve,
this good fat salary shall be min
, own If can compass it.
And he returned to his house an,
turned in and slept. and he dreame,
dream. And in his dream he wa
that officer which he had envied. An,
on all the nights thereafter h,
dreamed the same dream, so that b,
night he was one man and by da,
another. And as the nights grew
longer it came to pass that he wa,
an officer most of the time.
Now in the fullness of time the
man in the courthouse had stolen al
that the law permitted, and his sue.
cessor must be found, And 10, this
dreamer of dreams became a self.
confessed patriot and candidate for
office.
And he washed himself and bought
raiment, and departed from his house.
and gat his beard shaven and the
hairs Of his head shorn. And he
called upon the people soliciting
their suffrage and shaking their
hands and inquiring after their
health, and became a pleasant and
decent appearing man, so that when
he returned to his home his wife
knew him not, and would not suffer
MN to enter until he had called some
OF his more recent acquaintances TO
iutHtlly nm.
Then entered the candidate into
ms house and washed himself and
anointed mis- head with oil and per.
fumed himself. And he set forth
again to seek the suffrage of the
people that he might rule over them
and the booze toter, and over the
fiunkies, and the courthouse buns.
and the cispidors and sit at ease and
draw the fat salary. And his way
was easy and he prospered. And he
said unp his friends, when We are
come INTO town, go not to tavern,
but stable your horses in the court
horSe. and sit at meat at nv ta,,.
And II any man of you be in trouble,
let him come to me. If any man
should sue We at the law, I will go
your BALL And they answered him
saying, "All that thou hast said we
VIII do, and we will give thee our
voice and set thee to rule over US,
Tor thou art a man after our own
heart" And he throve exceedingly.
But it came to pass upon a GER
tain day that the candidate called
upon a man who was known of all .
men to be upright and honorable. I
And when the candidate had made
known unto the man his wishes, the
man said, How feelest thou toward
the moonshiners and the bootleggers /?
| would know this, because there is
~ other issue before the people, and
hese malefactors have brought
hame upon all good citizens" Then
be candidate winked his eve and
nswered saying, "All men know my
osition on whisky. If elected, will
nforce the law. but to be elected
iust have votes, and the votes of
ioonshiners, yea, and the votes of
ootleggers are as valuable to me as
ny other votes. Therefore | cannot
AXE a stand against these people.
10 do so would insure my defeat.
Snt be thou assured. will take care
y my friends" Then the honest
nan took the candidate by the hand
md seated him in an easy chair and
'ade him rest himself, and brought
vater and washed his feet. And
When the candidate was asleep the
ionest man took a sharp ak and
mote off his head.
Now when these things were known
md the rulers charged the honest
nan with the shedding of blood, he
aade answer saying, 81 have slain
o man, but a candidate" And it
'as so, and they acquitted him and
scorted him home with honour.
This parable sheweth that the
andidate without convictions walk
n in danger.
Alison Baker
Sarcastic Spouse