LESSON XI.
en riched', made rich.
de tec'tion, being found out.
dis mount'ed, got down from.
sat' is fied, supplied with all one wants.
sum'mit, top; highest point.
en trust'ed, gave the care of.
em ployed', used; made use of.
im por'tant, worthy of attention.
ad dressed', spoke to.
di' a mond, a very valuable stone.
in clud' ed, put in as a part.
THE NOBLEST DEED OF ALL.
A rich Persian, feeling himself growing old, and finding that the cares of business were too great for him, resolved, to divide his goods among his three sons, keeping a very small part to protect him from want in his old age.
The sons were all well satisfied, and each took his share with thanks, and promised that it should be well and properly employed. When this important business was thus finished, the father addressed the sons in the following words:
"My sons, there is one thing which I have not included in the share of any one of you. It is this costly diamond which you see in my hand. I will give it to that one of you who shall earn it by the noblest deed.
"Go, therefore, and travel for three months; at the end of that time, we will meet here again, and you shall tell me what you have done."
The sons thereupon departed, and traveled for three months, each in a different direction. At the end of that time they returned; and all came together to their father to give an account of their journey. The eldest son spoke first.
"Father, on my journey a stranger entrusted to me a great number of valuable jewels, without taking any account of them. Indeed, I was well aware that he did not know how many the package contained.
"One or two of them would never have been missed, and I might easily have enriched myself without fear of detection. But I gave back the package exactly as I had received it. Was not this a noble deed?"