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From: wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler)
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: A Long One
Message-ID: <614@pyuxa.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Mar-84 14:07:18 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxa.614
Posted: Mon Mar 12 14:07:18 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Mar-84 07:58:51 EST
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 70

Once upon a time, there was a tribe of people called Trids.  Now, the
Trids were a small race, not being over 12 inches high at their tallest.
The Trids lived in a small, but lush valley between two mountain ranges.
Trids were quiet and happy in their valley until one year, a terrible
drought reduced the floor of the valley to a wasteland.  As the principle
food supplies began to vanish, the Trids had to move further and further
up the sides of the valley to find food.  As they moved upwards, they
came into contact with the great Ogre that lived in the mountains.  Each
time the Ogre found some of the Trids in his territory, he would kick the
helpless little Trids until they retreated to the valley floor.

Things began to look desperate for the liitle folk.  It was becoming more
and more dangerous to go up the mountain to gather food.  The Ogre had 
taken to laying in wait for the Trids and jumping out to kick them.  One
day, after a foraging party had returned all bruised and swollen from the
Ogre's kicks, a great meeting was called.

"What can we do?  We must have food but the great Ogre will not stop
kicking us." cried their leader.

"We must find someone who will talk to the Ogre for us." said one
of the Trids.

"But who can talk to him?  He always kicks us if he sees us." said
another.

"I know, let us ask the Rabbi from the village down the valley." cried
yet another Trid.  "He can talk to the Ogre for us."

The Trids all cheered and elected a committee to go ask the good Rabbi
to intercede for them.  The committee followed the long path down to
the village where they found the Rabbi.  After much persuasion, the
Rabbi finally, much to his apprehension at facing a great Ogre, agreed
to climb up the mountain and talk to the Ogre.

The Rabbi, accompanied by the Trid committee, wound his way back to the 
Trid village, where, after resting, he began to climb up to meet the
great Ogre.  The climb was very difficult for the Rabbi, but he kept
moving up the mountain.  At last he came to the mouth of a cave that
looked as if someone occupied it.

"Hellooo there. Is anyone here?" cried out the Rabbi.

"Yes, Hello, Who's there?" came a booming voice from the depths of the
cave.

"It's me, the Rabbi.  Can I talk with you?" said the Rabbi

The Ogre came out of the cave, stretched out his hand and shook the
Rabbi's hand.

"I'm glad to see you Rabbi.  I've heard a lot about you." said the
Ogre in his deep voice.  "Won't you sit down and then we can talk.
What's on your mind?"

The Rabbi, not wanting to press the issue about the Trids, began to
talk about the weather, the drought, and many other things.  As the
Rabbi talked, he thought to himself that the Ogre seemed like a nice chap
and he wondered why the Trids thought so badly of him.  As the time and
stimulating conversation passed, the Rabbi finally decided to ask the
Ogre about the Trids.

"Mr. Ogre, I am puzzled.  Whenever the Trids come up from the valley,
you kick them all the way back down the mountain yet you do not kick
me.  Why is this?" asked the Rabbi.

The Ogre sat back and roared with laughter.  When he had calmed down,
he smiled and looked at the Rabbi and said.

"Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Trids."