“In the first place,” he began, “do you know that we American garbage cans are the hardest worked of all garbage cans in the world?”
“No,” Robert shook his head.
“It’s a fact, though,” went on the garbage can. “The American garbage can is the fattest in the world,—a United States senator first said so.”
“Why, what did that mean?” asked Robert. “American garbage cans don’t look any fatter than those in other countries, do they?”
“The senator referred to the rich food that is thrown into the American garbage can,” explained the speaker patiently. “He meant that the American people are the most wasteful people in the world. They do not save little things. Few people stop to think how long it takes grains of wheat to grow into a loaf of bread. Did you ever think how hard somebody had to work to get the wheat grains ready to make the bread?”
“No,” acknowledged Robert, “I don’t believe I ever did.”
“If people did think, we should not be stuffed every day with bread enough to feed many a poor family.”
“Oh, not that much, surely?” questioned Robert in surprise.
“Yes, sir,” declared the garbage can, “that much. I ought to know! I have been a garbage can all my life.”
“Yes, you ought to know,” agreed Robert.