The Emperor and The Captive
In a battle with the English soldiers , Napolean , Emperor of France , held some Englishmen as captives . One of them was an English youth . He fled from the French camp and took shelter in a cave on the beach of the Atlantic . He collected a few pieces of woodlogs . One day he was building with them a raft with a view to crossing the ocean . He could not stand the separation from his mother who had none but him . He longed for her to see . But he was caught in action unfortunately by the French army . He was brought before the Emperor . He said to the boy . " What makes you so daring ? " The boy kept silent . Napolean again said , " The ocean is furious . Why this adventure ? " The boy at once broke into tears , replying , " Your Majesty , My Lord . There lies beyond the seas my mother . She loves me most . She has none to look after her but me .
I wanted to see her . " Silence loomed large in the court hall . Everybody expected the Emperor to pass death sentence for the captive . But to their surprise he did not punish the boy . Rather he rewarded him , saying , " Take this guinea . Keep it with you , I gift it with love to you , and honour your mother . " He ordered his ship to land the boy with all respect on the British shore .
Moral : The Great have great hearts .
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