The Quality of Mercy

One afternoon, an obscenely wealthy lawyer was riding in the back of his limousine returning to his country estate.

Gazing idly out the window, he couldn’t help noticing two men eating grass by the road-side.

The counselor ordered his driver to stop immediately. He let himself out of the back of the limo and walked over to investigate.

"Why are you eating grass?" he asked one man.

"We don't have any money for food," the wretch replied.

"I see. Well, then, why don’t you come with me in the car to my house,” said the attorney.

"But, sir, I have a wife and two children with me..." muttered the wretch, gesturing toward an adjacent copse.

"Think nothing of it," replied the future jurist. "Bring them along!"

After which he turned to the other man and said: "You come with us, too."

"But I have a wife and six children," the second man answered.

"Bring them as well!" insisted the lawyer.

So they all climbed into the car--no easy task, even for a car as large as the limousine.

Once underway, one of the wretches blurted: "Sir! You are too kind! Thank you for taking all of us with you!"

"Think nothing of it!” replied the eminent barrister. “You'll love my place—the grass is almost a foot tall."