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CHARITY
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This happened when the torrential rains had brought about floods. The villagers who were collecting funds for the relief of the flood victims approached a wealthy gentleman, asking him to contribute one hundred rupees. He agreed to contribute fifty-one. All their pleadings failed to persuade him to give any more. They were vexed and when they all got . together at the end of the day, there was severe criticism of his niggardliness. “How mean of him to refuse when he could very well afford to!” they grumbled.
An old man intervened, “Friends, you should not indulge in such irresponsible criticism. This gentleman had no desire to buy himself name and fame with a handsome donation. You must have all read in the morning papers about the anonymous donation of thirty-one thousand rupees. That generous donor was no other than this man whom you call mean.”
True charity springs from the warmth of the heart; it does not hanker after name or fame. Charity loses its very essence if it is extended with an eye on prestige.
Milk turns sour when blended with anything acid; so does charity when tainted with a bargaining motive.
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