23. The lump of gold 金块的故事

Paul was avery rich man, but he never spent any of his money. He was scared that someonewould steal it. He pretended to be poor and wore dirty old clothes. Peoplelaughed at him, but he didn’t care. He only cared about his money.

One day, hebought a big lump of gold. He hid it in a hole by a tree. Every night, he wentto the hole to look at his treasure. He sat and he looked. ‘No one will everfind my gold!’ he said.

But onenight, a thief saw Paul looking at his gold. And when Paul went home, the thiefpicked up the lump of gold, slipped it into his bag and ran away!

The nextday, Paul went to look at his gold, but it wasn’t there. It had disappeared!Paul cried and cried! He cried so loud that a wise old man heard him. He cameto help. Paul told him the sad tale of the stolen lump of gold. ‘Don’t worry,’he said. ‘Get a big stone and put it in the hole by the tree.’

‘What?’said Paul. ‘Why?’

‘What didyou do with your lump of gold?’

‘I sat andlooked at it every day.’ Said Paul.

‘Exactly,’said the wise old man.’ You can do exactly the same with a stone’

Paullistened, thought for a moment and then said, ‘Yes, you’re right. I’ve beenvery silly. I don’t need a lump of gold to be happy!’