有一個(gè)守財(cái)奴變賣了所有家產(chǎn)，并將所有金器全部熔成了一個(gè)大金塊，秘密埋在一個(gè)地方。他每天都會(huì)走過去看看，有時(shí)還會(huì)花很長時(shí)間得意洋洋地欣賞自己的寶藏。一個(gè)仆人注意到他經(jīng)常去那個(gè)地方，便在某一天監(jiān)視著他，發(fā)現(xiàn)了他的秘密。那人在一個(gè)夜晚伺機(jī)挖出了金塊，并偷走了。第二天，當(dāng)守財(cái)奴又像往常一樣到那里來看寶貝時(shí)，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的寶藏不翼而飛了，便捶胸頓足地痛哭起來。一個(gè)鄰居見他如此悲痛，便問他遇上了什么麻煩。守財(cái)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(jìn)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(huì)再如此難過了。因?yàn)榧词鼓鞘且粔K真的金子，對(duì)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(shí)就是要說對(duì)那些吝嗇鬼來說你每天看一個(gè)快金子和一塊石頭的區(qū)別不大，因?yàn)槟愣紱]有真正的去利用金子，那么金子和石頭又有什么區(qū)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.”