A TRICK

A TRICK

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