A young man, a student at Marshall, was one day taking a walk with one of his professors, 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 old 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 a trick on this man: 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 dollar 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 dollar bill stuffed in the toe. Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his face. He gazed upon the dollars, turned it over, 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 another dollar. His feelings overcame him; he fell on 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. How this timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save his family 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 young college student 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).

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Dr. Charles M. Wood, II is an accomplished instructor of psychology and religion at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He is a Christian counselor in Logan — serving, ministering, and donating his time to people from all denominations.

If you would like to contact Dr. Wood, please write: The Logan Banner, c/o The Good Life With Dr. Wood, P.O. Box 720, Logan, WV 25601; or call (304) 752-4658. All letters addressed to Dr. Wood will be forwarded to his office.