有一個守財奴變賣了所有家產，并將所有金器全部熔成了一個大金塊，秘密埋在一個地方。他每天都會走過去看看，有時還會花很長時間得意洋洋地欣賞自己的寶藏。一個仆人注意到他經常去那個地方，便在某一天監視著他，發現了他的秘密。那人在一個夜晚伺機挖出了金塊，并偷走了。第二天，當守財奴又像往常一樣到那里來看寶貝時，發現自己的寶藏不翼而飛了，便捶胸頓足地痛哭起來。一個鄰居見他如此悲痛，便問他遇上了什么麻煩。守財奴告訴他自己的不幸，可是，鄰居卻說：“朋友，別太放在心上了，找一塊石頭放進洞里，然后每天都來看看它，只要你心里想著那是塊金子，就不會再如此難過了。因為即使那是一塊真的金子，對你來說也沒什么用呀。”

　　【吝嗇鬼的故事寓意】

　　這篇吝嗇鬼的寓言故事其實就是要說對那些吝嗇鬼來說你每天看一個快金子和一塊石頭的區別不大，因為你都沒有真正的去利用金子，那么金子和石頭又有什么區別呢。

　　【吝嗇鬼的英文版】

　　THE MISER

　　A Miser sold everything he had，and melted down his hoard of gold into a single lump，which he buried secretly in a field.Every day he went to look at it，and would sometimes spend long hours gloating over his treasure.One of his men noticed his frequent visits to the spot，and one day watched him and discovered his secret.Waiting his opportunity he went one night and dug up the gold and stole it.Next day the Miser visited the place as usual，and，finding his treasure gone，fell to tearing his hair and groaning over his loss.In this condition he was seen by one of his neighbours，who asked him what his trouble was.The Miser told him of his misfortune；but the other replied，“Don’t take it SO much to heart.my——iend；put a brick into the hole.and take a look at it every day：you won’t be any WOrSe off than before，for even when you had your gold it was ofno earthly use to you.”