He would put his finger in the pie, so he burnt his nail off
Charles Spurgeon · John Ploughman's Pictures; or, More of His Plain Talk for Plain People
THE PIE, AND SO HE BURNT
HIS NAIL OFF.
OME men must have a finger in every
' pie, or, as the proverb hath it, " their
(125)
126 JOHN PLOUGHMAN'S PICTURES.
oar must be in every man's boat. " They
seem to have no business except to poke
their noses into other people's business:
they ought to have snub noses, for they are
pretty sure to be snubbed. Prying and spy-
ing, peddling and meddling, these folks are
in everybody's way, like the old toll-gate.
They come without being sent for, stop with-
out being asked, and cannot be got rid of,
unless you take them by the left leg and
throw them down stairs, and if you do that
they will limp up again, and hope they don't
intrude. No one pays them, and yet they
give advice more often than any lawyer;
and though no one ever thanks them, yet
there they are, peeping through keyholes
and listening under the eaves. They are
as great at asking questions as if they
wanted you to say the catechism, and as
eager to give their opinion as if you had
gone down on your knees to ask it.
These folks are like dogs that fetch and
carry ; they run all over the place like star-
lings when they are feeding their young.
They make much ado, but never do much,
unless it is mischief, and at this they are as
apt as jackdaws. If any man has such
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. 127
people for his acquaintances, he may well
say, " Save me from my friends."
I know your assistance you'll lend,
When I want it I'll speedily send;
You need not be making such stir.
But mind your own business, good sir.
It is of no more use than if we spoke to
the pigs, for here is Paul Pry again. Paul
and his cousins are most offensive people,
but you cannot offend them if you try.
Well do I remember the words of a wise
old Quaker: — "John," said he, "be not
concerned with that which concerns not
thee." This taught me a lesson, and I
made up my mind not to scrub other peo-
ple's pigs for fear I should soon want scrub-
bing myself There is a woman in our
village who finds fault with all, and all find
fault with her ; they say her teeth are all
loose through her tongue rubbing against
them ; if she could but hold her tongue she
would be happy enough, but that's the diffi-
culty—
*' When hens fall a cackling take heed to the nest,
When drabs fall a whispering farewell to thy rest."
128 JOHX PLOUGHMAX'S PICTURES.
Will Shepherd was sitting very quiet while
others were running down their neighbors.
At last a loose fellow sung out '* Look at
Old Will, he is as silent as a stock-fish;
is it because he is wise or because he is a
fool ?" " Well," said Will, "you may set-
tle that question how you like, but I have
been told that a fool cannot be silent."
Will is set down as vtry odd, but he is gen-
erally even with them before he has done.
One thing is sure, he cares very little what
they do say so long as they don't worry
his sheep. He hummed in my ear an old-
fashioned verse or two the other evening,
something like this —
" Since folks will judge me every day,
Let every man his judgment say;
I will take it all as children's play,
For I am as I am, whoever say nay.
Many there be that take delight
To judge a man's ways in envy and spite;
But whether they judge me wrong or right,
I am as I am, and so do I write.
How the truth is I leave to you ;
Judge as ye list, whether false or true.
Ye know no more than before ye knew,
For I am as I am whatever ensue."
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. 129
If folks will meddle with our business it
is best to take no notice of them ; there's no
putting them out like letting them stop
where they are ; they are never so offended
as when people neither offend them nor take
offence at them. You might as soon stop
all the frogs from croaking as quiet idle
gossips when they once get on the chat.
Stuff your ear with wool and let them jab-
ber till their tongue lies still, because they
have worn all the skin off of it. " Where
no wood is the fire goeth out," and if
you don't answer them they can't make a
blaze for want of fuel. Treat them kindly,
but don't give them the treat of quarrelling
with them. Follow peace with all men,
even if you cannot overtake it.