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37
wits hale borne suit’ ed prop’ er
ly sit u a’ tion
Grandpa Dennis is one of the kindest and gentlest,
as well as one of the wisest men I know; and although
his step is somewhat feeble, and the few locks that
are left him are gray, he is still more hale and hearty
than many a younger man.
Like all old people whose hearts are in the right
place, he is fond of children, whom he likes to amuse
and instruct by his pleasant talk, as they gather
round his fireside or sit upon his knee.
Sometimes he puts questions to the young folks, not
only to find out what they know, but also to sharpen
their wits and lead them to think.
“Tell me, Norman,” he said one day, as
they sat together, “if I have a cake to divide
among three persons, how ought I to proceed?”
“Why, cut it into three parts, and give one
to each, to be sure,” said Norman.
“Let us try that plan, and see how it will succeed.
Suppose the cake has to be divided among you, Arthur
and Winnie. If I cut off a very thin slice for
you, and divide what is left between your brother and
sister, will that be fair?”
“No, that would not be at all fair, Grandpa.”
“Why not? Did I not divide the cake according
to your advice? Did I not cut it into three parts?”
“But one was larger than the other, and they
ought to have been exactly the same size.”
“Then you think, that if I had divided the cake
into three equal parts, it would have been quite fair?”
“Yes; if you had done so, I should have no cause
to complain.”
“Now, Norman, let us suppose that I have three
baskets to send to a distance by three persons; shall
I act fairly if I give each a basket to carry?”
“Stop a minute, Grandpa, I must think a little.
No, it might not be fair, for one of the baskets might
be a great deal larger than the others.”
“Come, Norman, I see that you are really beginning
to think. But we will take care that the baskets
are all of the same size.”
“Then it would be quite fair for each one to
take a basket.”
“What! if one was full of lead, and the other
two were filled with feathers?”
“Oh, no! I never thought of that.
Let the baskets be of the same weight, and all will
be right.”
“Are you quite sure of that? Suppose one
of the three persons is a strong man, another a weak
woman, and the third a little child?”
“Grandpa! Grandpa! Why, I am altogether
wrong. How many things there are to think about.”
“Well, Norman, I hope you see that if burdens
have to be equally borne, they must be suited to the
strength of those who have to bear them.”
“Yes, I see that clearly now. Put one more
question to me, Grandpa, and I will try to answer
it properly this time.”
