It makes a difference for that one cat or dog…
Adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977)
Once upon a time, there was a wise man traveling around the United States. He had a habit of walking through neighborhoods of small towns, looking for inspiration for his writing. One day, as he was walking around Allen County, he saw a bunch of students hanging around stores on Iola’s town square. He smiled to himself at the thought of a new topic to write about that day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he realized what they were doing — hanging posters.
He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
One Iola Middle School student paused, looked up, and replied, “Trying to raise more money for ACARF, our local animal shelter.”
“I must ask, then, why are you raising money for an animal shelter?”
To this, the young student replied, “There are animals out there, wandering around hungry and lost. If we don’t help them, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But child, do you not realize that there are millions of abandoned animals in the United States? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young man picked up the poster with the pictures of 13 animals whose adoptions were paid by IMS students. “It made a difference to each of these.”
Ona Chapman
LaHarpe, Kan.
Letter to the editor:
Having family buried in both Iola cemeteries, I have always felt a sense of sadness and loneliness whenever I went to the Iola Cemetery west of town. So many of the headstones were leaning or had even fallen over that I felt it was becoming a forgotten place.
But now, I have felt a comforting feeling there, by seeing the stones cleaned and realigned. It has made such a difference. I wanted to acknowledge this by thanking any and all who had a part.
Thanks again.
Jim Seigel,
