A Spartan Story I (He is a Brick)

If you are in England, you will often hear an Englishman say about his friend, “Oh, he is a brick.” And what does he mean by that? He wants to say that this man is honest and brave and is always ready to help his friends.

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Many hundred years ago a foreign prince came to visit Sparta. He visited many cities and towns and at last came to the capital.

“How do you like my cities and towns?” asked the king of Sparta.

“They are beautiful and rich,” answered the foreign prince, “but one thing I do not understand. Why are there no walls round your cities and towns? Are your people not afraid to live in the cities without walls? Haven’t you bricks in your country?”

“We have very good bricks,” laughed the king, “and there are walls around every city and town of Sparta. Come with me to-morrow and I shall show you the walls of Sparta.”

Next day the Spartan king and the foreign prince came to a great field. There were thousands and thousands of soldiers there.

“Look at these walls of Sparta,” said the king, “thirty thousand men, and every man is a brick.”