As two men were walking by the sea-shore, they found an oyster, and began to quarrel about it.
"I saw it first, " said one man; " so it belongs to me. "" I picked it up, " said the other; "and I have a right to keep it. "As they were quarrelling, a lawyer came by, and they asked him to decide the matter. The lawyer agreed to do so; but, before he would give his opinion, he required that the two men should give him their assurance that, whatever he might say, they would be quite satisfied with his decision. Then the lawyer said, "It seems to me that you both have a claim to the oyster; so I will decide it between you, and you will then be perfectly satisfied. "Opening the oyster, he quickly ate it, and very gravely handed to each of the men one of the empty shells.
"But you have eaten the oyster! " cried the men.
"Ah, that was my fee for deciding the case ! " said the lawyer."But I have divided all that remains in a fair and just manner. "That is what generally happens when two quarrelsome persons go to law about anything they cannot agree upon.
To make a happy fireside clime To weans and wife,That"s the true pathos and sublime Of human life.
Burns
Author.-Anonymous.
General.-Why were laws made? What is the advantage of having laws? Are there any disadvantages? What is the moral of the story? How can contestants settle their differences without going to law? Compare this story with the well-known fable of the Cats, the Monkey, and the Cheese.
