A MAN had a never-failing spring in his grounds, the water from which he brought through pipes to his house. There it was used for drinking, cooking, washing, and all domestic purposes. After a time, however, the family became aware that, from some cause, the water was tainted. They were loth to acknowledge this, but it was so evident that all their wishes to the contrary could not deceive them.

The first thing the man did was to go to the spring and examine it. No water could look purer. He dipped a cupful from the surface, and drank it without detecting any unpleasant taste. What was next to be done? He had heard of a filter for sale at the village store. It would cost several dollars, but the doctor’s bill might come to a great deal more. There was no help for it: the filter[361]
[362] was bought and placed where every drop from the spring passed through it before being used at the house. Reluctant indeed were the man and his family, after such an expense, still to recognize, without being able to detect the cause of, the impurity.

But one course was left, and that was to take up and examine every foot of pipe through which the water ran. This required a whole day’s labor. Nevertheless, it was done. No dead toads or frogs were found in it, so it was carefully cleaned and laid back in its place. The water was turned on again, and, although there was in reality no reason to look for an improvement, the family felt disappointed when it became evident, after all this additional trouble, that the disagreeable taste remained.

The man sat silent all the evening after his hard day’s work, discouraged, but still trying to devise some means of prosecuting his search. The next morning he rose up bright and early, and without saying a word to any one put his long post-spade over his shoulder and walked out to the spring. There, beginning a little way back from its edge, he began to dig. Finding nothing but good top-soil, with clay underneath, he pursued his labors until he had gone almost the whole way around it. Then he came suddenly upon a dark spot in the earth. He dug into it still deeper; the odor that arose from it revealed its nature:[363]
[364] it was a mass of decay. He uncovered it to the spring’s side, and found that it cropped out there at the very spot where his pipe opened into the water. At last the cause of all his trouble was revealed.

It was no small task to dam back the rising tide, so that the foul matter could be removed and replaced with pure earth. But, now that he could see where to direct his efforts, this was a simple matter, requiring only persevering labor, which was willingly bestowed; and so in due time the work was well and thoroughly done and the object attained. And the man and his family continued ever afterward to enjoy the pure water of the spring.

As long as we allow the source to remain impure, we will try in vain to purify that which issues from it.