The Dying Nobleman

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 26, 1862

The Dying Nobleman.

A CERTAIN nobleman, as the story goes, had a rude wit in his employ, called a fool. Amused with a remark of his one day, the nobleman gave him his walking-cane, with this injunction: "Take this walking-cane, and keep it until you meet with a greater fool than yourself, and then give it to him." The man kept the walking-cane for a length of time, not meeting with any one whom he deemed a greater fool than himself. In process of time, however, his lordship was laid upon a dying-bed, and sending for the rude wit, addressed him thus: "Farewell!" "Where is your lordship going?" said the man. "I am going to my long home," replied the nobleman. "Your long home! How long is your lordship going to stay there?" "Oh!" said the dying nobleman, "I am never to return!" "Never to return!" exclaimed the man, "Never to return!" "No," said the nobleman, "I am going to eternity, and am never to return." "Has your lordship made any preparation for that long home?" "No," said he, "I have not." "Then," replied the man, "your lordship will please to take the walking-cane; you are certainly a greater fool than I am—please to take the walking-cane."

If this be deemed a quaint illustration, sure I am it is forcible, and much to the point.—Sel.