The Raven & The Dove

There once was a rich man that had all his heart could desire. He had a booming business and was rich beyond compare. He lived in a big mansion on a golf estate and drove a million dollar car. He despised people who were unable to help themselves in this life; and as such had no time for the poor. To him they were only a nuisance and a burden on the tax-payer. He threw big parties and celebrities from all over the country came to attend one of his bashes. He had a high society wife and a few young children with bright futures. His retirement was set and he was to have a splendid time enjoying the fruits of a lifetime of labor. However, one night he went into cardiac arrest and died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The funeral was splendid affair with lots of family and friends attending. As they lowered him into the ground a solemn hymn was sung. A raven sat on a tree branch nearby and watched the proceedings. When everyone had left the rich man’s grave stood silent. The raven looked about him, and then flew over the silent grave, and took the man’s soul.
There was a poor man who had labored all his life to earn a meager living. He worked for minimum wage at car-washes and on garbage trucks. He had no wife and children and very few friends. He lived in a small room on the poor side of town where he rented. His possessions were few and not expensive. He painted a bit during his off-days, but in his entire life, he never made a penny from his art. He was a poor, but contented man, and battled it out in life for his daily existence. The years went by and while others grew rich, he remained the same. He kept working at his minimum wage jobs and living on the poor side, until one day when developed a tumor, and died shortly thereafter. Not many people attended his funeral; just a few old friends and the little blood relatives which he had. He was buried in a paupers grave, and after the small service, the graveyard was quiet and deserted. A dove had been sitting in tree nearby and had watched the proceedings. Now that everyone had gone he sat looking about him. He preened his feathers gently and then took off in flight. And as he flew, he flew over the poor man’s grave, and took his soul.