n or Out of Lilliland

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

Lilliland was bordered by Switzerland on one side. The boundary was clearly marked by a mountain stream. However, one year the spring floods running down the Alpine Mountains diverted the stream. There were four small houses that were in Lilliland, but the stream began to run on the Switzerland side of the house lots. What that meant officially, was that the four homes, formerly in Lilliland, were now technically in Switzerland.

The Baron asked his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, what should be done? The Professor said that the four families should be asked what they would like to be done.

Since all four families had children attending schools in Lilliland, they said that they would prefer to remain in Lilliland.

Next the Swiss authorities were contacted to see what they would propose.

Actually, the amount of land involved was less than a city block in length, and only 200 feet across.

The Swiss authorities said that they would go along with anything that Lilliland wanted to do.

After a few days of discussion, the consensus was reached. Lilliland would reroute the stream to its original path before the spring flood changed the stream’s location.

It took workmen only two days to restore the original streambed and have the stream move along its original path.

When asked about the restoration of the stream’s path, the four homeowners all said that they like it. They were happy that their children would not have to change schools in the middle of the school year.

The Baron said to the Professor that he wished more countries were as neighborly and understanding as the Swiss.

Everyone understands that when Mother Nature makes up her mind to change things around, there is not much that people can do except to say, “Watch out.”

But that is understandable when you live in the Alpine Mountains in all their majesty and splendor.