One day, a man named Naushabai was traveling and stopped by Aбай's house. After settling in, he asked:
- Aбайжан, has there ever been someone who could express precious words or sharp thoughts? Aбай thought for a moment and then replied:
- I had a son named Әбдірахман. I sent him to a Russian school in Semey when he was nine years old. After he graduated, I sent him to Petersburg. He studied during the winter and came home for summer vacation. Upon inquiring, I found that he seemed to be doing well in his studies. Wanting to test my son's cleverness, I casually asked him one day:
- My dear Әбіш, in the creation of this world, which is more precious, the white object or the black one? He answered without hesitation:
- The white object is precious.
- Why, isn’t the black object precious? I asked. Әбіш looked at me and laughed:
- How can you call black precious? He said. I replied:
- First of all, a person perceives all creations in the world with their eyes, right? - I said,
- But the white part of the eye does not see; only the small black pupil sees. This is evidence of the preciousness of black. Secondly, paper is white, but a person cannot gain knowledge from it; they acquire knowledge from the black ink written on it. Thirdly, in youth, a person's beard and hair are black. In this regard, during youth, a person has a lot of wisdom, knowledge, and strength. When they age, their hair and beard turn gray. Consequently, wisdom, knowledge, and strength also diminish. Therefore, I think black is more precious than white, - I said. Then Әбіш asked:
- How did you know all this? - he asked. - I knew it through wisdom, - I replied.
- Then wisdom must be in the brain, and isn’t the brain a white substance? Secondly, wisdom is light, a luminous substance. Doesn’t that resemble white? - he asked. I was pleased with my son's clever response and kissed him on the forehead.
