Legendary tales
Margaret Gatty
Paperback
(RareBooksClub.com, May 16, 2012)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 Excerpt: ...THE TREASURE-SEEKER. A LEGEND OF BONNEVAL. INTRODUCTION. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." HEN jEsop's cock found the precious stone on the dunghill, he turned it over with contempt, and pursued his search for something more suited to his own particular wants and wishes; and, by doing so, he proved himself to be a treasure-seeker of the wisest and most philosophical description. Some people may be disposed to quibble at this conclusion, and to argue that it was only in consequence of the cock's ignorance, and lower standard of requirements, that he preferred the barley-corn to the diamond. He was incapable, (they would say,) from his inferiority, of appreciating the greater intrinsic worth of the gem. It would be a grand thing if people knew what they meant when they used such highsounding phrases as " intrinsic worth!" We speak of the " intrinsic worth" of a diamond, as if it was the acknowledged fact of the universe; whereas we, temporary travellers in a a world which we are merely passing through, mean nothing but its value in a particular money-market, where a certain quantity of gold would be given in exchange for it. Take it to the islands of the south seas, where, what we should be disposed to call trumpery little shells, would be offered as its equivalent; and then you can sit down and meditate to some purpose on the intrinsic worth of a gem. On your return home the shells would probably fetch only a few pence, and you, if you had agreed to the exchange, would find yourself very much in the position of Hans in Luck, when he had, by much ingenuity, converted his bar of gold into a grindstone; only you would not be, I fear, quite so contented as the hero of the German tale. No! there is, in point of fact, ...