A Fisherman’s Tale.

A fisherman was far out in the ocean when Neptune appeared: “Because you have always been an honest fisherman, I will warn you that your boat is leaking and you will drown if you don’t fix it.”

The fisherman looked around and said “No, that isn't a leak. It is morning dew settling on the bottom of the boat.”

A little while later Neptune again appeared and said “The dew has dried away, and your boat is leaking. If you don’t fix it you will drown.”

Again the fisherman looked around and said “No, that isn't a leak. A few waves have lapped over the gunnel.”

Still later Neptune appeared again and said “This is my last warning: your boat is leaking and you will die if you don’t fix it now.”

And once again the fisherman looked around and said “No, the boat isn't leaking. That water is from the rain storm that just ended.” The fisherman was tired from bailing the waves and rain water and decided to take a short nap, and when he awoke the boat was nearly full of water and about to sink. He cried out “NEPTUNE!! Help me. My boat is sinking!! Save me, please.”

Neptune appeared and said “You ignored my warnings, although you should have seen with your own eyes that your boat was leaking. Now you must die from the consequences of your ignorance. You are a very foolish man.”

And so the fisherman died on the ocean, warned in plenty of time to fix his boat.

Image: http://wkiri.com/comphist/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/neptune-150x150.jpg