Æsop's Fables

"The Miser's Gold"

      Once there was a miser who was so fond of his treasure that he placed it all in one box.  Then he carried his treasure to one of his fields, dug a deep hole and buried the box deep in the ground.  Every day the miser would return to the place of his treasure and watch over it until the sun set.  

    Not long after he buried his treasure one of his servants took notice of the miser's daily trips and decided to investigate.  After the Miser left for the night, the servant appeared with a shovel.  He unearthed the treasure and left that same night.  

    The next day the miser returned to his treasure's hiding place only to find an empty hole.  Upon his discovery the miser fell to his knees wailing and carrying on.  Several of his other servants, drawn by his cries, rushed to him, only to find him lying on his face wailing.  

    After a short time the miser regained his composure and recanted the story to his men.  After a moment one of the men came up with the solution to his master's problem.

    "Simply fill another box with rocks and bury it in the same hole.  Then you can return to the same spot every day and gaze at it just as you did your treasure."

       "Riches left unspent serve no purpose."