{"id":196,"date":"2011-02-20T15:14:00","date_gmt":"2011-02-20T21:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/character-training.com\/blog\/"},"modified":"2022-02-26T15:20:50","modified_gmt":"2022-02-26T21:20:50","slug":"a-fence-or-an-ambulance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.character-training.com\/blog\/a-fence-or-an-ambulance\/","title":{"rendered":"A Fence Or An Ambulance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

A Fence or an Ambulance
\nJoseph Malins (1895)<\/h1>\nTwas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
\nThough to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
\nBut over its terrible edge there had slipped
\nA duke and full many a peasant.
\nSo the people said something would have to be done,
\nBut their projects did not at all tally;
\nSome said, “Put a fence ’round the edge of the cliff,”
\nSome, “An ambulance down in the valley.”\nBut the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
\nFor it spread through the neighboring city;
\nA fence may be useful or not, it is true,
\nBut each heart became brim full of pity
\nFor those who slipped over the dangerous cliff;
\nAnd the dwellers in highway and alley
\nGave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence,
\nBut an ambulance down in the valley.\n“For the cliff is all right, if your careful,” they said,
\n“And, if folks even slip and are dropping,
\nIt is’t the slipping that hurts them so much
\nAs the shock down below when they’re stopping.”
\nSo day after day, as these mishaps occurred,
\nQuick forth would those rescuers sally
\nTo pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,
\nWith their ambulance down in the valley.\nThen an old sage remarked: “It’s a marvel to me
\nThat people give far more attention
\nTo repairing results than to stopping the cause,
\nWhen they’d much better aim at prevention.
\nLet us stop at its source all this mischief,” cried he,
\n“Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally;
\nIf the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
\nWith the ambulance down in the valley.”\n“Oh he’s a fanatic,” the others rejoined,
\n“Dispense with the ambulance? Never!
\nHe’d dispense with all charities, too, if he could;
\nNo! No! We’ll support them forever.
\nAre’t we picking up folks just as fast as they fall?
\nAnd shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
\nWhy should people of sense stop to put up a fence,
\nWhile the ambulance works in the valley?”\nBut the sensible few, who are practical too,
\nWill not bear with such nonsense much longer;
\nThey believe that prevention is better than cure,
\nAnd their party will soon be the stronger.
\nEncourage them then, with your purse, voice, and pen,
\nAnd while other philanthropists dally,
\nThey will scorn all pretense, and put up a stout fence
\nOn the cliff that hangs over the valley.\nBetter guide well the young than reclaim them when old,
\nFor the voice of true wisdom is calling.
\n“To rescue the fallen is good, but ’tis best
\nTo prevent other people from falling.”
\nBetter close up the source of temptation and crime
\nThan deliver from dungeon or galley;
\nBetter put a strong fence ’round the top of the cliff
\nThan an ambulance down in the valley.\n

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