The Miser and his Gold

Author: Aesop

A miser buried his gold in a hidden location in his garden. Every day, he returned to the location, dug up the treasure, and counted it piece by piece to ensure it was complete. He made so many journeys that a Thief who had been watching him figured out what the Miser had concealed and one night stealthily dug up the treasure and stole it.

When the Miser learned of his loss, he was overcome with grief and despair. He moaned, wept, and ripped his hair.

When a passerby heard his cries, he inquired as to what had happened.

"My precious metal!" "O my gold!" exclaimed the Miser, "someone has robbed me!"

"Your precious metal!" What's in the hole? Why did you place it there? Why didn't you store it in the house so you could readily retrieve it when you needed to buy something?"

The Miser yelled loudly, "Buy!" "Because I never touched the gold." I couldn't think of anything to do with it."

A hefty stone was picked up by the stranger and thrown into the hole.

"If that's the case," he advised, "then cover up that stone." It is as valuable to you as the riches you lost!"

Moral:

A possession is just as valuable as the use we make of it.