The Miser and His Gold
Long ago, beside an old forest of cool streams, there lived an old man. This man was very rich, but he never liked to share his money. He sold all he owned and bought one big lump of gold. He hid the gold in a deep hole under a big garden tree. Every day he secretly went there, opened the hole and gazed at his gold. One day a clever thief followed the old man from far away.
When the man left, the thief ran to the tree and dug the soil. He saw the shining gold, felt great joy and ran away with it. The next day the miser came again to see his gold. When he saw the empty hole, he felt great fear and deep sorrow. He began to cry loudly and to tear at his own hair. His neighbour heard this painful voice and came to him at once.
When the neighbour learned the truth, he looked at the man in surprise. He smiled at the miser and put a big stone into the hole. "Why are you crying? Just think this stone is gold," he said. "You never spent your gold, so the stone does the same work," he added. When the miser heard these words, he understood his mistake, but it was too late. Riches with no use bring nothing good to a person's life. What you do not enjoy, others will enjoy for you.