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 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
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. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never
understood before: 'It is more blessed to give than to
receive.'"
Author unknown, retold by Artin Tellalian
