In the spring following, the mason was employed in building another wall. He hoped that his work would be suffered to proceed without interruption on this occasion at least, but he was speedily undeceived; for one of the stones, just as in the previous year, began to grumble, and protest against the treatment to which it was about to be subjected. The mason, recollecting the former scene, was on the point of flinging it away at once; but second thoughts suggested to him the eligibility of first trying the effect of a little reasoning and remonstrance, "for, after all," said he, aloud, "no two stones are alike, and though I have met with one that was proof against argument, another may be less intractable in my hands." "There it is!" cried the Stone impatiently; "no two stones alike!--that's your foolish mistake, your ignorance. I tell you that there is no difference between one stone and another: I am just as good as any stone in the wall, and I insist on my prerogatives." "Hoity-toity!" exclaimed the mason, "but you are a sturdy beggar! Will you be condescending enough to define your prerogatives? I will thank you to tell me briefly how you would have me dispose of you." "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."