Keeper of the Spring The old
gentleman had been hired many years earlier by a young town councilman to clear
away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the
lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he
patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt
that would otherwise have choked and contaminated the fresh flow of water.
1 Graceful swans floated along the
crystal clear spring, the mill wheels of various businesses located near the
water turned day and night , farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the views
from restaurants were picturesque beyond description. Years
passed. 2 As they reviewed the budget,
one man’s eye caught the salary being paid to the obscure keeper of the spring.
Said the keeper of the purse, "Who is the old man Why do we keep him on year
after year No one ever sees him. For all we know, the strange ranger of the
hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer. "
3 For several weeks, nothing
changed. By early autumn, the trees began to shed their leaves.
Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow
of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint
in the spring. 4 Within another week, a
slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks, and a foul odor was
soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt.
Swans left, as did the tourists. 5 A. By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s
services. B. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached
deeply into the village. C. The village soon became a popular
attraction for vacationers. D. Never become discouraged with
the seeming smallness of your task, job, or life. E. One
evening the town council met for its semiannual meeting. F. A
few days later, the water was much darker.