Pat
and George were two lively neighbourhood boys. Pat possessed several beautiful
birds, while George had only two or three birds and these were plain and
ordinary types.
One
day a couple of Pat’s doves flew into George’s aviary, and began to build a
nest. The poor boy thought: “How happy I would be if they were mine! They are
as white as snow and their heads and tails are as black as coal. Of all of
Pat’s birds these are certainly the most beautiful.”
All
of a sudden he thought of keeping the birds and to say nothing. “No,” he
reflected, “I won’t do it, because it would be a sin. I want to overcome this
temptation.”
He
closed the aviary, took the birds and went to Pat’s place immediately. The
latter was overjoyed to find his birds again, and was especially pleased that
George had been so honest. He decided to take the first eggs the birds laid and
to place them secretly in George’s aviary in the nest of one of his birds.
When
the little birds found their way out of the eggs and began to grow their
feathers, George was amazed to find that they were black and white just like
the couple that Pat had. He ran to Pat’s place to tell him of the miracle that
had happened.
Pat
smiled and told him he had changed the eggs to show his recognition for the
honesty that had been shown him.
We
are bound to be honest,
But
not rich.
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