Explore "Al-Kantara, or "the Bridge"" by Hilaire Belloc on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
When the hour of public executions had arrived and the boys were assembled once more at their uncle's feet to hear the story of his fortunes, (their minds full of his last success), the old man, still occupied with that pleasing memory, began at once the continuation of his life.
"I left the valley, as I told you, my dear nephews, nourished by the memory of a whole people's gratitude and giving thanks to God who had made me the humble instrument of so great a good. They err who think that great wealth is marked with oppression, or that the rich man has despoiled the populace. Upon the contrary, the fortunes of the wealthy are but an index of what excellent work they have done for all; and I, for my part, equally joined in my heart the memory of all the benefits I had conferred upon my kind in the matter of pipkins, and my overflowing satisfaction at the heavy bags of coin which swayed upon the backs of my camels.