Horace Elisha Scudder

The Old Man and Death

An Old Man, after cutting his wood and lifting it upon his shoulders, set out on a long road. And growing very weary, he laid down his burden and began calling on Death. But when Death appeared and asked why he had called for him, the Old Man said: "So that you may help me on with my load again."

The fable teaches that every man is a lover of life, even though it go hard with him and he meet a thousand dangers.