A soldier's dignity
I was reading a story the other day....and it struck a chord.....this is how it went....
An old duke used to hold an annual dinner for the retired officers of his regiment and every year, chose ten different people to attend the dinner.
One year, post dinner, he found that his precious silver snuffbox was missing.....and very candidly asked those present to turn out their pockets. Nine of them did but one gentleman refused and walked out in a huff. So, the others automatically assumed, he'd stolen it.....and as expected belittled the old man and forgot about it......
But life is full of twists and four months down the line, a lazy handmaid dusting the armchairs found the snuffbox, stuck in the upholstery......and took it to the duke.
The duke was horrified as he had been a part of the badmouthing and guiltily decided he needed to go in person to apologise to the officer.
He went to the soldier's sparse home and after much talk, asked, "If you hadn't taken the snuffbox, why did you walk away?"
To which the upright soldier replied,"the only thing I had left was my dignity and honour and if you did not trust me then, I didn't want any part of proving it!"
That's how soldiers are....they assume the world understands them and will respect them....and take care of their needs....., because they have been taught that character, courage and integrity matter more on the battlefield than money ever will.
* * *
The Eagle
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
- Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Interacted with a lot of people over the telephone and felt richer by the quantum of information gathered from them. It was a great experience!
I was reading a story the other day....and it struck a chord.....this is how it went....
An old duke used to hold an annual dinner for the retired officers of his regiment and every year, chose ten different people to attend the dinner.
One year, post dinner, he found that his precious silver snuffbox was missing.....and very candidly asked those present to turn out their pockets. Nine of them did but one gentleman refused and walked out in a huff. So, the others automatically assumed, he'd stolen it.....and as expected belittled the old man and forgot about it......
But life is full of twists and four months down the line, a lazy handmaid dusting the armchairs found the snuffbox, stuck in the upholstery......and took it to the duke.
The duke was horrified as he had been a part of the badmouthing and guiltily decided he needed to go in person to apologise to the officer.
He went to the soldier's sparse home and after much talk, asked, "If you hadn't taken the snuffbox, why did you walk away?"
To which the upright soldier replied,"the only thing I had left was my dignity and honour and if you did not trust me then, I didn't want any part of proving it!"
That's how soldiers are....they assume the world understands them and will respect them....and take care of their needs....., because they have been taught that character, courage and integrity matter more on the battlefield than money ever will.
* * *
The Eagle
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
- Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Interacted with a lot of people over the telephone and felt richer by the quantum of information gathered from them. It was a great experience!
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