TRUTH IS A SHIELD*

In a distant village,  

the people were known for their honesty and trustworthiness. Anyone who visited the village was amazed at how everyone trusted one another.  

There was a young man named Haruna. He went to the market in a faraway town and forgot his bag full of money on a bench. After an hour, he remembered and ran back quickly. When he arrived, he saw an old woman standing by the bag, guarding it.  

The old woman said, "I saw you forgot your bag, and I didn’t move from here until you returned."  

Haruna burst into tears and said, "By God, honesty and trust are more valuable than gold."  

The story spread across the town. Everyone praised the character of the village people. In the end, the state government chose the village as a model of honesty and integrity.  

*—Lesson:*  

When people live with honesty and trust, peace and progress are guaranteed. The world needs people who will stand for the truth, even when no one is watching.