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. Daily he visited it to inspect it. Rousing the curiosity of one of his workmen, who, suspected that there might be treasure and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the hidden treasure, and when his master's back was turned, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. When the Miser returned, on his next visit, found the hole empty he began weep and to tear his hair. 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 as you never meant to user it, the one will do as much as the other."

The worth of money is not in its possession but in its use.