Coin in the 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 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. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood
before: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Stay blessed!