Many years ago, during the great depression, there were few jobs to be had. Men walked the streets, asking anyone and everyone for work to earn just one day�s food for their families.

One man went from house to house, knocking on doors. He happened upon a house of ill repute. The madam answered and asked, "May I help you?"

"Mamm, I was wondering if you might have any work I could do," he said. "I�m really hungry and so is my children and wife, and I�ll do any honest work for just a little money."

"Well," The madam said, "we do need a book keeper. We could pay $12 a week."

"What does a book keeper do?" the man asked.

"The book keeper keeps records of all the moneys that comes and goes from the establishment, and makes a monthly report to me," she said.

"Oh, I see," he said." am afraid I couldn�t take the job, Mamm. I don�t know how to read and write."

The madam felt so sorry for the man that she almost cried. "You poor man,"she said. "and you are trying so hard, not just begging. Now, here is $5. I want you to take it and you can get yourself something to eat and feed those children, too." and she handed him a $5 bill.

The man thanked her and went to a local market and looked for the lest expensive food item they had. There was a large display of apples. They looked good, so the man told the clerk to give him a dollar�s worth. The grocer filled a large shopping bag and handed it to the man.

The man went toward home, taking a short cut through the local park. He was very tired and sat down on a bench to rest a bit. He took an apple and started eating it.

Rather well off folks often walked the pathways of the park, and some of them saw him eating the beautiful apple. Thinking he was there to sell apples, they ask him how much for one. He thought for a moment, then said, "Just one dime, sir. They are very good, and ten cents is a small price for such fine taste."

Well, he sold all the apples in a short time, putting over $6 in his pocket. He went back to the market and purchased more apples, then back to the park. He made a lot of money with this scheme.

In a few months he had a bank account large enough to allow him to purchase a run-down fruit stand. He fixed it up and sold, not only apples, but all sorts of fruit. In a year he had enough money to buy a small market. With hard work, he turned it into a very profitable business. He bought more markets, and built several new ones until, over a long period of time, he was a very rich man.

Finally, at fifty years old, he decided to retire and sell out everything. All his children were through college and his wife had learned to drive and did so, a big Caddie. He advertised his holdings for sale.

A large investment firm came to an agreement with him and the sale was announced. Of course, when a sale worth $33 Million takes place, it is big news, so the press got involved. The local newspaper sent a young reporter who knew little about the man. This reporter stood back and took notes as the attorneys discussed the terms of the sale.

Finally the man�s attorney announced, "Now, Sir, if you will put your mark right here, I�ll witness it and Joe here will witness it, and they will give you the $33 Million check."

The young reporter was amazed. He almost shouted when he realized this man did not know how to write. He stepped forward and said, "Sir, do I understand that you don�t know how to write?"

"That�s right, Sonny," the man said. "I never had time to learn how."

"You...Ah... You amassed this fortune and you can�t write?" the reporter said. "My God, just think what you would be if you had been given an education!"

"Yeah," the man said, "I�d be a book keeper in a red light house....."