文档介绍：ACRES OF DIAMONDS
ACRES OF DIAMONDS
BY ROBERT SHACKLETON
1
ACRES OF DIAMONDS
FOREWORD
This is the most recent plete form of the lecture. It happened
to be delivered in Philadelphia, Dr. Conwell's home city. When he says
``right here in Philadelphia,'' he means the home city, town, or village of
every reader of this book, just as he would use the name of it if delivering
the lecture there, instead of doing it through the pages which follow.
WHEN going down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers many years ago
with a party of English travelers I found myself under the direction of an
old Arab guide whom we hired up at Bagdad, and I have often thought
how that guide resembled our barbers in certain mental characteristics.
He thought that it was not only his duty to guide us down those rivers, and
do what he was paid for doing, but also to entertain us with stories curious
and weird, ancient and modern, strange and familiar. Many of them I
have forgotten, and I am glad I have, but there is one I shall never forget.
The old guide was leading my camel by its halter along the banks of
those ancient rivers, and he told me story after story until I grew weary of
his story-telling and ceased to listen. I have never been irritated with that
guide when he lost his temper as I ceased listening. But I remember that
he took off his Turkish cap and swung it in a circle to get my attention. I
could see it through the corner of my eye, but I determined not to look
straight at him for fear he would tell another story. But although I am not
a woman, I did finally look, and as soon as I did he went right into another
story.
Said he, ``I will tell you a story now which I reserve for my particular
friends.'' When he emphasized the words ``particular friends,'' I listened,
and I have ever been glad I did. I really feel devoutly thankful, that there
are 1,674 young men who have been carried through college by this
lecture who are also glad that I did listen.