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."