A View From The Left- The Ambulance Down in the Valley

The Ambulance Down in the Valley

Joseph Malins (1895)

‘Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke and full many a peasant.

So the people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally;
Some said, "Put a fence ’round the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

The lament of the crowd was profound and was loud
As their hearts overflowed with their pity.
But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
As it spread through the neighboring city.

So a collection was made to accumulate aid,
And the dwellers in highland and valley,
Gave dollars and cents, not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is alright, if you’re careful," they said,
"And, if folks ever slip and are dropping,
It isn’t the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below when they’re stopping."

So for years we have heard, as these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would the rescuers sally,
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,
With the ambulance down in the valley.

Said one in his plea: "It’s a marvel to me
That you'd give so much greater attention
To repairing results than to curing the cause,
Why you'd much better aim at prevention.

"For the mischief of, course, should be stopped at its source;
Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally;
It is far better sense to rely on a fence
Than an ambulance down in the valley."

"He is wrong in his head" the majority said.
"Dispense with the ambulance? Never!
He's a man who would shirk his responsible work.
No! No! We’ll support it forever.

Aren’t we picking up all just as fast as they fall?
And shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence
While the ambulance works in the valley?"

But the sensible few, who are practical too,
Will not bear with such nonsense much longer.
They believe that prevention is better than cure,
And their party will soon be the stronger.

Encourage them then, with your purse, voice, and pen,
And while other philanthropists dally,
They will scorn all pretense, and put up a stout fence
On the cliff that hangs over the valley.

Better guide well the young than reclaim them when old,
For the voice of true wisdom is calling.
"To rescue the fallen is good, but ’tis best
To prevent other people from falling."

Now the story sounds queer as I've spoken it here,
But things oft' occur that are stranger.
More humane we assert than to suffer the hurt,
Is to plan of removing the danger.

The sensible course is to safeguard the source,
And attend to things rationally.
Yes, build up the fence and let us dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley.