p. 122 | True Politeness

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 3, 1871

True Politeness.

A POOR Arab going through the desert, met with a sparkling spring. Accustomed to brackish water a draught from this sweet well in the wilderness seemed, to his simple mind, a present fit to offer to the caliph. So he filled his leathern bottle, and after a weary tramp, laid his humble gift at his sovereign's feet. The monarch, with the magnanimity that may put many a Christian to blush, called for a cup and filling it, drank freely; and with a smile, thanked the Arab and presented him with a reward. The courtiers pressed eagerly around for a draught of the wonderful water which was regarded as worthy such a princely acknowledgment. To their surprise, the caliph forbade them to touch a drop. Then, after the simple-hearted giver left the royal presence, with a new spring of joy welling up in his heart, the monarch thus explained the motive for his prohibition. “During this long journey the water in his leathern bottle has become impure and distasteful; but it was an offering of love, and, as such, I accepted it with pleasure. I feared, however, that if I allowed another to taste it, he would not conceal his disgust. Therefore it was that I forbade you to partake, lest the heart of the poor man should be wounded.”—Sel.