He lent him besides, the sum of $50,000, telling him he would send a trusty messenger, while the dinner was going on, to fetch it. Accordingly, while the guests were at table, a liveried servant appeared with a note, requesting the master of the house to lend his friend that amount for three days. The host, apologizing for attending to urgent business, left the table, and taking the roll of notes from an iron safe, counted them out before the assembled company before intrusting them to the servant. His daughters and sons-in-law were astonished. From that time forth they totally changed their behavior to their father; his daughters vied with each other in their attentions to him. When he died, the safe from which he took the money was opened; they expected a rich legacy. To their amazement only a few stones were found in it, and a paper whereon were these words: “ That man is a fool who divides his property between his children during his lifetime.”
THE MISER WHO BURNED HIS NOTES
The miser is his own worst enemy. A certain miser, who grudged himself the bare necessaries of life, was seriously ill. As he grew worse and worse, he was at length prevailed upon to have medical advice. The doctor diagnosed his malady and declared that he had at most three days to live. He exhorted him to send for the priest and prepare for death. When he had gone, the miser did not follow his advice and summon the priest; he got out of bed and taking a quantity of bank-notes and bonds, he put them in the fireplace and set fire to them. He did
