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THERE IS A WAY

The EntertainerBy Scott Joplin

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A blind boy sat on the steps of a A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. building with a hat by his feet.

He held up a sign which said:He held up a sign which said:

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A man was walking by. He took a few A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. into the hat.

There were only a few coins in the There were only a few coins in the hat.hat.

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He then took the sign, turned it around, He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. and wrote some words.

He put the sign back so that everyone He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by will see the new words. who walked by will see the new words.

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Soon the hat began to fill up. Soon the hat began to fill up.

A lot more people were giving money A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.to the blind boy.

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The boy recognized his footsteps and The boy recognized his footsteps and asked,asked,”Were you the one who changed my sign ”Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”this morning? What did you write?”

That afternoon the man who had changed That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. the sign came to see how things were.

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The man said, The man said,

“I only wrote the truth. “I only wrote the truth.

I said what you said but in a way.”I said what you said but in a way.”

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What he had written was:What he had written was:

"Today is a day "Today is a day and I cannot see it."and I cannot see it."

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Do you think the first sign and the Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same second sign were saying the same thing? thing?

Of course both signs told people theOf course both signs told people theboy was blind.boy was blind.

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But the first sign simply told people to But the first sign simply told people to help by putting some money in the hat. help by putting some money in the hat.

The second sign told people that they were The second sign told people that they were able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy could not enjoy it because he was blind. boy could not enjoy it because he was blind.

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Should we be surprised that the Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?second sign was more effective?

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There are at least two lessons we There are at least two lessons we can learn from this simple story.can learn from this simple story.

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The first is, The first is,

“Be thankful for what you have. Someone “Be thankful for what you have. Someone else has less. else has less.

HelpHelp where you can.” where you can.”

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The second is, The second is,

“Be . “Be .

Be . Be .

Think . Think .

THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY!”THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY!”

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