The Two Matches

THE TWO MATCHES. ONE day there was a traveler inthe woods in California, in the dry season, when the Trades were blowingstrong. He had ridden a long way, and he was tired and hungry, and dismountedfrom his horse to smoke a pipe. But when he felt in his pocket, he found but twomatches. He struck the first, and it would not light. " Here is a prettystate of things," said the traveler. " Dying for a smoke; only one matchleft; and that certain to miss fire! Was there ever a creature so unfortunate?And yet," thought the traveler, "suppose I light this match, andsmoke my pipe, and shake out the dottle here in the grass the grass might catchon fire, for it is dry like tinder; and while I snatch out the flames in front,they might evade and run behind me, and seize upon yon bush of poison oak;before I could reach it, that would have blazed up; over the bush I see a pinetree hung with moss; that too would fly in fire upon the instant to its topmostbough; and the flame of that long torch how would the trade wind take andbrandish that through the inflammable forest! I hear this dell roar in a momentwith the joint voice of wind and fire, I see myself gallop for my soul, and theflying conflagration chase and outflank me through the hills; I see thispleasant forest burn for days, and the cattle roasted, and the springs driedup, and the farmer ruined, and his children cast upon the world. What a worldhangs upon this moment! " With that he struck the match, and it missed fire." Thank God," said the traveler, and put his pipe in his pocket.