“The Chief was so impressed with the lad’s words that he gave back his gold and said: ‘May you always live up to that ideal.’
“And Otanes did, for he became one of the great and famous men of his day.”
There was silence as Miss Martin concluded this tale, then one of the boys said: “Maybe Otanes wouldn’t have been so honest about giving up dat money if it was all he had; but he knew he could git more from his fadder when he got to de city.”
“I am quite sure Otanes would have acted exactly the same whether he were a newsboy in New York or the king’s son in Persia. Besides, he could not send back home for more money from his father, as it took a long time to cross the desert and it might be months, or a year, before another caravan would reach his father and be able to bring back money for the boy. So that was not the reason of his telling the truth, you see,” replied Miss Martin.
“Miss Marting, won’t you please tell us somethin’ about children what made pickshers an’ grew into fine painters!” asked one of the children, and little Nelly Finn smiled with anticipation.
“I told you about the great Raphael in my last talk and also about the slave who watched his master and thus educated himself to become even greater than his teacher. Now I will tell you about a simple shepherd lad who used to make pictures on the rocks and pieces of bark, with a burnt stick for crayon.
“He was working with such interest one day that he failed to see a man approach him. The stranger watched the work for a time and was so amazed at the talent shown that he touched the boy on the shoulder.
“The lad sprang up and courtesied, then the man said: ‘Who taught you to draw like that?’
“‘Myself, master.’
“‘Who are you, and whose sheep are those?’