Something more important than gold and leisure
Something more important than gold and leisure
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.”
A wolf was almost dead with hunger. A house-dog saw him, and asked, “Friend, your irregular life will soon ruin you.
“Why don’t you work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly?”
“I would have no objection,” said the wolf, “if I could only get a place.” “I will help you,” said the dog. “Come with me to my master, and you shall share my work.”
So the wolf and the dog went to the town together.
On the way the wolf saw that there was no hair around the dog’s neck.
He felt quite surprised, and asked him why it was like that?
“Oh, it is nothing,” said the dog. “Every night my master puts a belt conveyor around my neck and chains me up. You will soon get used to it.
“Is that the only reason?” said the wolf. “Then good-bye to you, my friend. I would rather be free.”