One day, a certain beggar appeared at his door. His clothes were neat and comely, and he leaned slightly on a gnarled walking stick. He asked if he could stay the night, and the man agreed.
He showed the beggar to a small room, and gave him a simple blanket, pillow and mattress to rest on. As he was about to depart, the beggar turned about and asked, ‘What seek ye?’
The man was puzzled and slightly startled by such a question. He was about to give a general reply when he noticed the kind intent and eagerness in the eyes of the beggar. He felt that he could trust him, and thus stepped back into the room and closed the door behind him.
‘I seek to become the richest man in the world.’
The beggar continued looking at him, a kind smile on his face.
‘Well, I suppose I seek to have the freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want.’
The beggar didn’t say a word.
‘I think I also seek security in my properties and wealth.’
The man paused, and felt a soft glow in his heart as he recalled the better times. He remembered how he grew up in the slums, collecting scraps from people’s meals. He remembered looking afar off over the great city on the East side, and promising to himself that one day he would be like them, and that he would help the poor.
Wistfully he uttered, ‘I seek to help the poor with what wealth I have.’
The beggar then cried, ‘I am a poor man who pounds the street everyday for a meagre meal. Then give me some of your wealth, upon your word and honour!’
The man was shaken from his reminiscing. He quaked angrily as he realized the deception and cunning of the beggar, ‘You have had no other intent but to rob me of my riches! Be gone!’
The beggar stood his ground firmly and said, ‘You have professed to seek to help the poor. Am I not one of the lower castes?’
‘Indeed I have sought to help the poor, but you have only sought to obtain a portion of my riches!’
The beggar proceeded to say, ‘You mistake me. I only asked for some of your wealth. I never mentioned in what way I should receive of it.’
The man was hushed.
The beggar said, ‘You claimed to be charitable. Yet your response has only served to reveal what you really seek.’
The man could not utter a single word.
‘I stand before you still. Will you yet withhold your hand of providence from me?’
The man, trembling, reached into his purse and withdrew a few gold coins, placing it into the hand of the beggar.
The beggar received it quietly and put it into his leather pouch.
The man, having more confidence now, asked, ‘So, what seek ye?’
The beggar turned around, looked him in the eye and smiled slightly, ‘I seek to become the richest man in the world.’
THE END
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