Got Pluck? Or Are You Merely a Mouse?

1874

Pluck

The hopelessness of any one's accomplishing anything without pluck is illustrated by an old East India fable.

A mouse that dwelt near the abode of a great magician was kept in such constant distress by its fear of a cat, that the magician, taking pity on it, turned it into a cat itself. Immediately it began to suffer from its fear of a dog, so the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to suffer from the fear of a tiger, and the magician turned it into a tiger. Then it began to suffer from fear of a huntsman, and the magician in disgust said, "Be a mouse again. As you have only the heart of a mouse, it is impossible to help you by giving you the body of a nobler animal." And the poor creature again became a mouse.

It is the same with mouse-hearted man. He may be clothed with the powers, and placed in the position of brave men, but he will always act like a mouse; the public opinion is usually the great magician that finally says to much a person, "Go back to your obscurity again. You have only the heart of a mouse, and it is useless to try to make a lion of you."



To say what should be said, to say only what should be said, and to say it only as it should be said is a rare gift.



An Irish clergyman, who was a hard laborer on his glebe, and when so occupied dressed in a very ragged manner, was recently engaged attending the early potato field, when he was surprised by the very rapid approach of his patron in an open carriage, with some ladies, whom he was to meet at dinner in the afternoon. Unable to escape in time, he drew his hat over his face, extending his arms covered with his tattered jacket, and passed himself off as a scarecrow.