There was once a college student who worked on a farm during school breaks to earn money for his tuition. Determined to save every penny, he spent his lunch breaks at an outdoor faucet, trying to quench his hunger with water. One day, a fellow farmhand approached him and said,
“Would you do me a favor and help me with my lunch? My wife must be trying to fatten me up. She packed far more food than I can eat. It feels wrong to throw it away.”
Hesitant at first, the young man shyly followed him and shared the meal. The next day, the farmhand made the same offer, giving the same reason. Before long, it became a daily routine. Thanks to the lunchboxes the man brought, the student was able to ease his hunger each day, free at last from the constant worry of missing a meal.
When the new semester began and it was time for the student to leave the farm, he went looking for the farmhand to express his gratitude. But that day, the man was nowhere to be found. Confused, the student went to the supervisor, explained what had happened, and asked him to pass along his thanks. The supervisor frowned slightly and said,
“He doesn’t have a wife. She passed away several years ago.”
Only then did the young man understand. The farmhand had invented the story to spare him embarrassment and protect his dignity.
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