Enjoy this story …… Via Raewyn DIGGERMAN

A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walk with a professor, who was commonly called the students’ friend, from his kindness to those who listened to his lectures.

As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was working in a field close by, and who had probably nearly finished his day’s work.

The student turned to the professor, saying: “Let’s play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and hide ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he can’t find them.” “My young friend,” answered the professor,”we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him.” The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by.

The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes.While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was and found the coin.

Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his face. He gazed at the coin, turned it over and over, and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him, but no one was to be seen. He then put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.

His feelings overcame him; he fell on his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without food, whom these timely coins from someone unknown would save from starving.The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears.

“Now,” said the professor, “are you not much more pleased than if you had played your intended trick?” The young man replied,”You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never really understood before: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.”

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