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 waited on his
instructions. 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 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 wait to see his perplexity when he cannot
find them."
"My young friend," answered
the professor, "we should never amuse
ourselves at the expense of someone. 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 countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it round, and looked at it
again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to
be seen. He now 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 upon 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 bread, whom the timely bounty, from some 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 had played your intended
trick?"
The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget.
The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget.
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