'The Model Millionaire' is a witty and charming short story by Oscar Wilde, taught in several school English syllabi. It carries a beautiful moral about genuine kindness and unexpected rewards.
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and author famous for wit and social commentary. His other famous works include 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.
Hughie visits his painter friend Alan Trevor's studio. He sees a poor, ragged, old beggar sitting as a model for a painting. Feeling genuinely sorry, Hughie gives the old man his only coin — a sovereign (a gold coin).
Later, Hughie learns to his shock that the 'beggar' was actually Baron Hausberg, one of the wealthiest men in Europe, who was posing for the portrait as a model.
The next day, Hughie receives an envelope from the Baron containing 10,000 pounds — as a wedding gift, with a note calling Hughie 'the only millionaire who gave me money'.
Because Hughie's act of giving his last coin to someone he believed was a poor beggar showed genuine, selfless compassion — a rare quality the Baron admired and wanted to reward.
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