Socrates and his House

by James Baldwin

　　

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There once lived in Greece a very wise man whose name was Soc´ra-tes.Young men from all parts of the land went to him to learn wisdom fromhim; and he said so many pleasant things, and said them in sodelightful a way, that no one ever grew tired of listening to him.One summer he built himself a house, but it was so small that hisneighbors wondered how he could be content with it."What is the reason," said they, "that you, who are so great a man,should build such a little box as this for your dwelling house?""Indeed, there may be little reason," said he; "but, small as theplace is, I shall think myself happy if I can fill even it with truefriends."

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