The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-24

A rich man was dying. He had
been miser who boarded his money
all his life until he amassed q gigan-
tic fortune. When anyone asked
him to assist in some charitable act
he always said: II cannot do that,
my friend, must be saving my
money, for money is everything in
this world"
When he was about to die he
thought:
Il am sure that money must be
worth something in the other world,
too, and l must see to it that l do
not go there with empty hands"
He called together his children
and ordered them to place q bag of
gold In the coffin with him.
DO not be stingy," he said, make
1t big bag and Ala 1t up with gold"
The very same night he gave up
the ghost. His children carried out
his wishes and placed q bag with
5000 gold pieces in the coffin.
AS soon rs he had arrived inside
the gates of Heaven he had to go
through the usual formalities. He
was asked where he came from,
what he had done and so on, and he
was very much tired and terribly
hungry and thirsty before the whole
thing was over. He was just about
ready to think that he must die a
second time from starvation when
he saw counter filled with eatables
and beverages Of all kinds.
This seems to be just like the
waiting room in a large railroad sta
tion," he said to himself. you
may have everything here, and I
even think I smell a roast some
where. How fortunate that I
thought of taking along money" He
opened his bag Of gold, looked at its
contents with loving eyes, went over
to the counter and pointed to plate
with sardines in oil.
How much does that cost?"
"One kopek," was the reply.
| THAT Is very cheap" the rich man
thought, and again he asked: "And
how much do these patties cost?"
ALSO one kopek," the saleslady
replied with smile.
IF that is so," the rich man said,
please give me ten sardines and
five patties, and them"
AS his eyes wandered over the
tempting dishes he seemed at loss
to select anything.
ID hi 49, La
ed at him patiently, and then said
slowly: 1T is customary to pay in
advance here"
Pay! With the greatest pleas
ure." The rich man took from his
bag q gold coin and said: please"
The saleslady turnel the coin be-
tween her fingers, looked at it from
all sides and handed 1t back: mo,
this is not the kind of kopeks that
we use here"
Immediately afterwards two
strong men came and carried off the
rich man between them. He was
very downhearted and also very
much offended.
"It is very annoying that they only
accept kopeks here. How strange,
must see that get some change" he
thought. During the next night he
ran back to his sons and whispered
to them in q dream: Take back your
gold, I can't use 1t here, and instead
Of 1t lay down bag filled with ko-
peks on my grave, If you do not want
me to starve."
Terrified the sons ran to the Gem
etery the next morning. dug up the
bag of gold and replaced 1t with a
bag filled with kopeks.
When the rich man had received
these he rushed to the counter and
said to the girl: Now have kopeks,
so please hurry up and give me
something to eat for l am terribly
hungry"
Although the money was there
the girl smiled, shook her head, and
said: II see that you have not learn
ed very much during your life, Here
we do not accept the kopeks which
you hold in your hand, but only
those that you put into the hands Of
others. Think back and see If you
cannot remember that you have ever
helped a poor man or encouraged a
sick one?"
The rich man bowed down his
head and thought. But never had
he assisted anyone, never had he
done anything for the sick or the
poor.
The two strong. men appeared
again and carried him off below.