The Miser

A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried

in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at

daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and

decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the

hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole

it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to

tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him

overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, “Pray do not grieve

so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that

the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service;

for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the

slightest use of it.”