A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walkwith a professor, who was commonly called the students' friend, from hiskindness to those who waited on his instructions.
As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, whichthey supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by,and who had nearly finished his day's work.
The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a trick:we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and waitto see his perplexity when he cannot find them."
"My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse ourselvesat the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a muchgreater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, andthen we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him."
The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes closeby.
The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the pathwhere he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slippedhis foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped downto feel what it was, and found the coin.
Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon thecoin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then lookedaround him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the moneyinto his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprisewas doubled on finding the other coin.
His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven anduttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sickand helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, fromsome unknown hand, would save from perishing.
The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears."Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than if you hadplayed your intended trick?"
The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. Ifeel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: 'It ismore blessed to give than to receive.'"
BRO.JUSTIN SUNILMON
HALLELUYA HOUSE .
HALLELUYA STRRET.
UDIYAN KULANGARA.
AMARAVILA (PO).
TRIVANDRUM (DIST).
KERALA,INDIA 695122
