A Russian Fable | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 20, 1883

A Russian Fable.

A PEASANT was one day driving some geese to a neighboring town, where he hoped to sell them. He had a long stick in his hand, and, to say the truth, he did not treat his flock of geese with much consideration. I do not blame him, however; he was anxious to get to the market in time to make a profit, and not only geese but men must expect to suffer if they hinder gain.

The geese, however, did not look on the matter in this light, and, happening to meet a traveler walking along the road, they poured forth their complaints against the peasant who was driving them.

"Where can you find geese more unhappy than we are? See how this peasant is hurrying on this way and that, and driving us just as though we were only common geese. Ignorant fellow that he is, he never thinks how he is bound to honor and respect us; for we are the distinguished descendants of those very geese to whom Rome once owed its salvation, so that a festival was established in their honor."

"But for what do you expect to be distinguished yourselves?" asked the traveler.

"Because our ancestors—"

"Yes, I know; I have read all about it. What I want to know is what good have you yourselves done?"

"Why, our ancestors saved Rome."

"Yes, yes; but what have you done of the kind?"

"We? Nothing."

"Of what good are you, then? Do leave your ancestors at peace. They were honored for their deeds; but you, my friends, are only fit for roasting."—Selected.