Seth was one of the richest men in town, but you could easily mistake him for a beggar. One day, he bought a huge lump of gold with all the money he had amassed. He dug a hole in the ground near an unused well and buried the gold there. He was sure that no thief would be able to find that place. With this happy thought, Seth checked on his treasure daily. Naturally, on his next visit, he found the hole empty.
He began howling with grief, and soon a crowd had assembled. They watched him grieve the way people mourn the loss of a dear one. Finally, Tenali came forward and asked him to stop it. “You want your gold? Just pick up a heavy stone and drop it in the hole. Pretend it is the gold you lost.”
“How can you make fun of me at a time like this,” wailed Seth. “I’m not making fun of you, friend!” said the wise Tenali, “How did you use the gold while it was here, except gaze at it every day? You could do the same with a stone.”
