Solomon and the Ant by Sheldon Oberman

Author:Sheldon Oberman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astra Publishing House
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Sharp as a Diamond

Centuries ago in countries like Holland, there were no schools to learn skills. A young person had to become an apprentice to a master and hope the master would share his knowledge. Apprentices had to work hard to prove themselves.

But how do you prove that you can learn to cut a diamond?

DOV SPENT TWO YEARS WORKING FOR HIS MASTER, THE BEST diamond cutter in all of Holland. But his master would not teach him how to cut or polish diamonds or even how to set them into a ring or a necklace. The master kept Dov busy by having him sweep the workshop and sharpen the tools and deliver messages.

One day Dov asked his master, “When will you teach me how to work with diamonds?”

His master frowned and told him. “When you’re smart enough. The mind of a diamond cutter has to be as sharp as a diamond.”

He took out a large diamond in a golden ring. “Watch this,” he said, and scraped the diamond against the window, etching the letters of his name upon the glass. He said, “This is the hardest, clearest, and sharpest diamond that I have ever had. It came all the way from India. I’ve cut it, polished it, and set it into this ring for a wealthy lord. Your job is to take it to him. Be careful, because it is worth more than you will ever earn in your whole life.”

Dov hid the diamond ring in a leather traveling bag. He waited until it was dark and the streets were almost deserted. Then, when he thought no one would see him, he headed toward the lord’s country mansion. He didn’t realize that he was being watched and followed by a robber from the moment he left his master’s shop. He was on a dark, deserted road when suddenly the robber leaped out of the bushes and blocked his way.

The man snarled, “You work for a diamond merchant, and you’re hiding something in that bag. Hand it over.”

Dov saw that the fellow was not very big or strong. He asked, “Why should I? What makes you so dangerous?”

“These two friends of mine,” said the robber, and he pulled out a pair of pistols.

Dov quickly handed over the diamond ring, but as the robber turned to leave, Dov said, “You can’t go yet. My master will call me a coward for giving up without a fight.”

“But I have two pistols,” said the robber.

“He won’t believe it,” said Dov. “Not unless I can show him the bullet holes.”

“Are you asking me to shoot you?” said the robber.

“No, just shoot my jacket,” said Dov, taking off his jacket and holding it up.

“Certainly!” said the robber with a nasty grin, and he blasted Dov’s jacket right out of his hands.

“How about my hat?” said Dov, raising it in the air.

“With pleasure!” laughed the thief, and he shot Dov’s hat to bits.

“Now shoot my traveling bag,” said Dov, and he held out his bag. The thief aimed both pistols and pulled the triggers, but nothing happened.

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