A FENCE OR AN AMBULANCE
Malins, Joseph
A Fence or An Ambulance By JOSEPH MALINS 'Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed, Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant; But over its terrible edge there had slipped, A duke...
...Then an old sage remarked: "It's a marvel to me, That people give far more attention, To repairing results than to stopping the cause, When they'd much better aim at prevention...
...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...
...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...
...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...
...Aren't we picking up folks just as fast as they fall...
...Some said "Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff," Some, "An ambulance down in the valley...
...To pick up the victims who fell off the chiff, With their ambulance down in the valley...
...Encourage them then with your purse, voice and pen, And while other philanthropists dally, They will scorn all pretense and put a stout fence, On the cliff that hangs over the valley...
...But a sensible few, who are practical, too, Will not bear with such nonsense much longer...
...We'll support them forever...
...Never...
...For a cliff is all right, if you're careful" they said, "And, if folks even slip and are dropping, It isn't the slipping that hurts them so much, As the shock down below when they're stopping...
...Let us stop at its source all this mischief," cried he...
...Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally, If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense, With the ambulance down in the valley...
...And shall this man dictate to us...
...But over its terrible edge there had slipped, A duke and full many a peasant...
...Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence, While the ambulance works in the valley...
...He'd dispense with all charities too, if he could...
...So day after day, as these mishaps occurred, Quick forth would thse rescuers sally...
...But the cry for the ambulance carried the day, For it spread through the neighboring city...
...So people said something would have to be done, But their projects did not at all tally...
...They believe that prevention is belter than cure, And their party will soon be the stronger...
...Shall he...
...Oh lie's a fanatic," the other rejoined, "Dispense with the ambulance...
Vol. 5 • April 1913 • No. 17
