A MISER1 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 decided2 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."