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Do Good by MattChidi(m): 12:55pm On May 08, 2016 |
In 1892 at Stanford University, an
18-year-old student was
struggling to pay his fees. He was
an orphan, and not knowing where
to turn for money, he came up with
a bright idea. He and a friend
decided to host a musical concert
on campus to raise money for their
education.
They reached out to the great
pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His
manager demanded a guaranteed
fee of $2000 for the piano recital.
A deal was struck and the boys
began to work to make the concert
a success.The big day arrived. But
unfortunately, they had not
managed to sell enough tickets.
The total collection was only
$1600. Disappointed, they went to
Paderewski and explained their
plight. They gave him the entire
$1600, plus a cheque for the
balance $400. They promised to
honour the cheque at the soonest
possible.
“No,” said Paderewski. “This is not
acceptable.” He tore up the
cheque, returned the $1600 and
told the two boys: “Here’s the
$1600. Please deduct whatever
expenses you have incurred. Keep
the money you need for your fees.
And just give me whatever is left”.
The boys were surprised, and
thanked him profusely.It was a
small act of kindness. But it
clearly marked out Paderewski as
a great human being.Why should
he help two people he did not even
know? We all come across
situations like these in our lives.
And most of us only think “If I help
them, what would happen to me?”
The truly great people think, “If I
don’t help them, what will happen
to them?” They don’t do it
expecting something in return.
They do it because they feel it’s
the right thing to do.
Paderewski later went on to
become the Prime Minister of
Poland. He was a great leader, but
unfortunately when the World War
began, Poland was ravaged. There
were more than 1.5 million people
starving in his country, and no
money to feed them. Paderewski
did not know where to turn for
help. He reached out to the US
Food and Relief Administration for
help.He heard there was a man
called Herbert Hoover — who later
went on to become the US
President. Hoover agreed to help
and quickly shipped tons of food
grains to feed the starving Polish
people.A calamity was averted.
Paderewski was relieved.
He decided to go across to meet
Hoover and personally thank him.
When Paderewski began to thank
Hoover for his noble gesture,
Hoover quickly interjected and
said, “You shouldn’t be thanking
me Mr. Prime Minister. You may
not remember this, but several
years ago, you helped two young
students go through college. I was
one of them.”
The world is a wonderful place.
What goes around comes around.
Please help others to the best of
your ability. In the long run you
may be helping yourself. God never
forgets anyone who sows a good
seed in other people, never.
Nothing in nature lives for itself.
Rivers don't drink their own water.
Trees don't eat their own fruit. Sun
doesn't give heat for itself. Flowers
don't spread fragrance for
themselves. Living for others is the
rule of nature. And therein lies the
secret of living..... |
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