The River Boat

[Tell of their valiant struggle and the virtues they embodied despite the demon they could not conquer.]

Two strangers, a small boy and an older man, were fishing from the banks of the Mississippi River. As time passed, they discovered that, although the fishing was poor, the conversation was good. By the time the sun began to set, they had talked of many things. At dusk, a large riverboat was seen moving slowly in the distance. When the boy saw the boat, he began to shout and wave his arms that he might attract the attention of those on board. The older man watched for some time and said: “Son, you’re foolish if you think that boat is going to stop for you. It’s on its way to some unknown place and it surely won’t stop for a young boy.” Suddenly, the boat began to slow and ve…