Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-07-13
GIFTS IN ABYsslNlA.
'D@elAls viii Take Them ~ they Are
Presented In the Right way.

i Presented In the Right way.
The agent OF the British government
who visited Ahyssinla some years ago
Wished to rnturn the favor Of nltive
|lIiclal b. s,m, sIi'abN pres mt. The
ostowal -. t''S was, l. 'Ncrrr, q Z. L
~ quite beyond the knowledge OF one
&eought up In the court circles OF west
80 civilization. His experience was
Instructive.
The arrangement was badly han
sed." be says and when | arrived
sveral persons besides the high obi
hl were present. After a few light
,plcs had been discussed I mentioned
" object In making the visit, and as
re ofrer was made to dismiss the by
Islanders I exhibited my donation.
N SIN an instant | was aware that
&ad made false step, A frown OF
mingled surprise and indignation
moulded the hitherto serene brow, AMI
Dnes of fathOmless integrity declined
be proffered gift, while strong Inward
ceiling found vent In a rocking motion
% his body.
s "'You have utterly misunderstood
ne said he. The frlendllness which |
ave shown you has been extended
bolely with pure motives Of Kindness to
NE stranger In the land Devotion TO
1ny sovereign and country IL amply re-
Iatd by the internal consciousness VI
&ecttude. Your Intentions are doubt
bms good. but greater happiness Will
walt me from the knowledge that you
*ill now recognize how dlsinterested
ny conduct has been
"My Offering was firmly waved
away. aud for some period his frame
fontinued shaken by Inward emotion,
ID the great edlhcatiou OF the bystand
bfx, whose eyes remained fixed on the
3round
Ia att was undoubtedly very discomht-
Ihg. and my apologies for So great "A
histake were profuse. declared that
III could not quit this abode until re
ntored calmness had given inc the ~.
kura nee that his feelings had recovered
.dlGAT uNudl Abllts ~ W.
N this soon happened. left, properly
'enraged at the miserable management
(which had Occasloned the awkward
mess
Naturally | consulted native an.
.fAority who had witnessed the trans
action and the mistake which had
but he was 80 tickled 10y
ahe circumstances that extracted
from him for some time little hut
Daughter His eventual view of mat.
tiers was conhded In a few woris:
"'Try again. but take more and have
mo witnesses
ION the next occasion I found the
governor alone. and when opened the
subject on which my visit was found
ed his eyes twinkle,l. and he said
From the first moment when saw
you had presentiment that We were
Ordained 10 h. great friends. ! do not
know II Europeans have these super
stltlons. but with us they are general,
and we do not ind them deceptive,
You may have heard and am aware
n IN generally stated OF us Ivy foreign
ers-that we are deceltful aud ayari'
cious TO not believe this. All coun.
tries contain bad men. and your ~.
perlence has perhaps been unfortu
mate. But we shall remain always
friends And what sre presents. after
MI. bat external emblems Of e~teemf
there were no difficulties on this
occasion. lie was obviously murh
! plcased aud finally said that the bless
'1ng Of Providence would b. SURF To at
aend The eXsrtions 81 a man who was
|ahOughtful Of the sAddeuei circum
stances % others. aud he was poor.
very pour Youths Companion