A FENCE OR AN AMBULANCE
‘Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed, though to
walk near its Crest was so pleasant, But over its terrible edge there has
slipped, a duke and full many a peasant, So the people said something would
have to be done, but their projects did not at all tally, Some said, "Put
a fence round the edge of the cliff." Some, "An
ambulance down in the valley."
But
the cry for the ambulance carried the day, for it spread through the
neighboring city, A fence may be useful or not, it is true, but each heart
became brimful of
pity, For those who
slipped over that dangerous cliff; and the dwellers in highway and alley, Gave
pounds or gave pence, not to put up a fence, but an ambulance down in the
valley.
"For the cliff is all right if you're careful," they said, and if
folk's even slip or are dropping, It isn't the slipping that hurts them so
much, as the shock down below when they're stopping. So day after day, as these
mishaps occurred, quick forth would their rescuers salley,
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff with
their ambulance down in the valley."
Then
an old sage remarked, "It's a marvel to me that people give fare more
attention To repairing results than to stopping the cause when they'd much
better aim at prevention, “Let us stop at its source all the mischief,"
he cried. "Come neighbors and friends let us rally. If the cliff we will
fence, we might almost dispense, with the ambulance down in the valley.
"Oh, he's a fanatic," the others rejoined, "dispense with the
ambulance? Never. He'd dispense with all charities,
too, if he could, no, no, we'll support them forever.
Aren't we picking up
folks just as fast as they fall, and shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence while the ambulance worked in
the valley?"
But a
sensible few who are practical, too, will not bear with such nonsense much
longer, They believe that prevention is better than
cure, and their party will still be the stronger. Encourage them then with your
purse, voice and pen, and while other philanthropists dally, they will scorn
all pretense and put up a fence on the cliff hat hangs over the valley.
Better guide well the young than reclaim them when old, for the voice of true
wisdom is calling, To rescue the fallen is good but
‘tis best, to prevent other people from falling. Better close up the
source of temptation and crime, than deliver from dungeon and galley, Better
put a strong fence round the top of the cliff, than an ambulance down in the
valley.