“I want to be a corner-stone, then,” said the rebel, “and a corner-stone I will be. I stand on my rights: all stones are equal; so, quick!—let me occupy a position in the corner.”
“That you cannot do, my friend,” returned the mason: “don’t you see that the corner-stones are already in their places?”
“I see that well enough,” said the Stone; “but you can take one of them out, and install me in its place. I have as clear a right to be there as any of them: equality is the badge of us all: every one of us is from a common quarry: we are all stones alike. Take one of them out, and put me in.”
“Now, see how grossly inconsistent you are!” urged the workman: “all stones, you assert, are equal, and have the same rights: yet you would have me rudely displace and degrade one of them for your pleasure, though, according to your own acknowledgment, you are not a bit better than he is! Upon my word, but you have enlightened conceptions of what constitutes equality. But I cannot stand here arguing the question with you all day; my time is precious; I beg you will decide whether you are satisfied to form part of the wall or not.”
“Assuredly I am,” said the other, “but only as a corner stone. How can you be so blind as not to see that we are all stones alike, and all therefore equal?”
“You are all stones alike,” replied the mason, “and so far equal, in a certain sense; but your equality consists merely in your being all liable to serve as wall-stones, not in your being all qualified for the place of corner-stones.”
“A truce with your slavish doctrines!” cried the malcontent; “either make of me a corner-stone, or build your wall without me.”
“Is that your final decision?” asked the mason. “I warn you not to trifle with me, for I cannot let my work wait for you any longer.”
“I have said it,” said the Stone. “I would see your wall trampled into dust, and the whole universe along with it, before I would surrender my great principle. Do what you please.”
“Go, then, refractory wronghead,” exclaimed the mason, “go and enjoy your equality where none will be likely to dispute it!” And so saying, he cast the Stone from him with a vigorous jerk; and the Stone, after it had completed its journey through the air, fell down, and from the force of its own gravitation sank several feet low into the bottom of a deep and slimy pool.