A WISE LAD AND A BAG OF GOLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WISE LAD AND A BAG OF GOLD.

I There is an old story which tells of a king who offered a bag of gold to the one who should travel best dver a wonderful new road which had just been finished through his kingdom. His subjects had all kinds of ideas about what the king meant by travelling the best. Some thought it meant speed and went over the road on horse back. Some thought it mea»nt grpnd'eur and decked themselves out in gorgeous attire and rode in gilded chariots. Some thought otte ihing and some another, and all day long they travelled in every kind of way. The road over which the travelling was done was well kept, except in one place where it appeared workmen had not cleared away the surplus stones. It seemed' a shame to- have a fine road spoiled thus by a pile of obstructing stones in the path Of the travellers. Some scowled at it, some spoke their mind ' about the matter, btit all went around it. It was almost night and. still the king had not given the reward to any of the contestants. ' Just as he himself was beginning to fear that he might not be able to make the reward, a youth came running through the twilight and handed a leather Bag to the king. "I found it under, a pile of stones in the road," he explained, bowing very low before his majesty, who handed it back to-him, saying, "it is yours, my lad." "Oh, yon must be mistaken, great king," returned the lad,, "someone must have lost it on the road. I never had such a leather bag in all my life so- it could: not have been I who lost it." "Did I not offer a reward of a bag of gold to the one who" should travel best over this new road which crosses my kingdom? This is that bag. It is yours because you travelled best. You stopped in your own race to take the stopping stones out of the road. /You made travel easier and safer for those who would come the same way. He travels best who thinks not of self alone. He travels best who makes going easier for others," said the king as the amazed lad took the proffered bag of gold.