Salt of the earth, Light of the world

There was once a traveling circus in Denmark that caught fire. The manager, seeing that the clown was already dressed and made up for the performance, thereupon sent him into the neighboring village to fetch help, especially as there was danger that the fire would spread across the fields of dry grass and engulf the village itself.

The clown hurried to the village and requested the inhabitants to come quickly and help put out the fire. But they thought that it was meant to attract people to the performance and they clapped their hands and applauded the clown.