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A Miser sold everything he had, and melted down his hoard of gold

into a single lump, which he buried secretly in a field. Every

day he went to look at it, and would sometimes spend long hours

gloating over his treasure. One of his men noticed his frequent

visits to the spot, and one day watched him and discovered his

secret. Waiting his opportunity, he went one night and dug up the

gold and stole it. Next day the Miser visited the place as usual,

and, finding his treasure gone, fell to tearing his hair and

groaning over his loss. In this condition he was seen by one of

his neighbours, who asked him what his trouble was. The Miser

told him of his misfortune; but the other replied, "Don't take it

so much to heart, my friend; put a brick into the hole, and take

a look at it every day: you won't be any worse off than before,

for even when you had your gold it was of no earthly use to you."

THE FOXES AND THE RIVER