Two dogs fight for a bone, and a third runs away with it
Charles Spurgeon · John Ploughman's Pictures; or, More of His Plain Talk for Plain People
AND A THIRD RUNS AWAY
WITH IT.
w
7E have all heard of the two men
who quarrelled over an oyster, and
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ii6 JOHN PLOUGHMAN'S PICTURES.
called in a judge to settle the question: he
ate the oyster himself, and gave them a
shell each. This reminds me of the story
of the cow which two farmers could not
agree about, and so the lawyers stepped in
and milked the cow for them, and charged
them for their trouble in drinking the milk.
Little is got by law, but much is lost by it.
A suit in law may last longer than any suit
a tailor can make you, and you may your-
self be worn out before it comes to an end.
It is better far to make matters up and keep
out df court, for if you are caught there you
are caught in the brambles, and won't get
out without damage. John Ploughman feels
a cold sweat at the thought of getting into
the hands of lawyers. He does not mind
going to Jericho, but he dreads the gentle-
men on the road, for they seldom leave a
feather upon any goose which they pick up.
However, if men will fight they must not
blame the lawyers ; if law were cheaper,
quarrelsome people would have more of it,
and quite as much would be spent in the
long run. Sometimes, however, we get
dragged into court willy nilly, and then one
had need be wnse as a serpent and harmless
LITTLE IS GAINED BY LA IV. 117
as a dove. Happy is he who finds an honest
lawyer, and does not try to be his own cli-
ent. A good lawyer always tries to keep
people out of law ; but some clients are like
moths with the candle, they must and will
burn themselves. He who is so wise that
he cannot be taught will have to pay for
his pride.
Let dogs delight to bark and bite,
And lose the marrow bone ;
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
I'll let the law alone.
To suffer wrong is surely sad,
But law-suits are in vain;
To throw good money after bad
Will but increase my pain.