The Old Shoes

THE OLD SHOES

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