Old is the tree and the fruit good,
Very old and thick the wood.
Woodman, is your courage stout?
Beware! the root is wrapped about
Your mother's heart, your father's bones;
And like the mandrake comes with groans.




IX - THE FOUR REFORMERS.


FOUR reformers met under a bramble bush. They were all agreed the
world must be changed. "We must abolish property," said one.

"We must abolish marriage," said the second.

"We must abolish God," said the third.

"I wish we could abolish work," said the fourth.

"Do not let us get beyond practical politics," said the first.
"The first thing is to reduce men to a common level."

"The first thing," said the second, "is to give freedom to the
sexes."