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Seemed, in the moveless clarity of sunlight,Some epic god directing destiny."So," he answered, "since you affirm yourselves as menI shall inform you of the one and only way,Fair to all and partial, in the end, to none,Whereby may be chosen among us allThose who shall go and those who shall stay!Once more, I ask you: be you men?""Aye," croaked they, "we be men!""Then"—and here his voice rose, dominant—"In this place and on this spot shall we remainUntil death, impartial, has weeded us,Those who shall go from those who shall stay!""Those who shall go from those who shall stay!"Echoed, in toneless notes, the broken men:And "Those who shall go from those who shall stay!"Reëchoed eerily the whispering jungle.Then, like an accolade of doom, fell silenceEnfolding avidly unto its inscrutable self,Forest, and sea, and depthless sky,And those bowed of head, stooped of shoulder,Standing, muted and motionless,Before one who, with hand aloft, rendered judgment.
The BudgetArthur C. Inman


THE COBBLER IN THE MOON
I
Cobbler, cease your stitching! Put down your awl!I've long been waiting Before your stall.

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