66 THERICHESTMAN INBABYLON
THEFIVELAWS OFGOLD
1. Gold cometh gladly and in increasing qua n-
t i t y t o a n y m a n w h o w i l l p u t b y n o t l e s s t h a n
o n e-t e n t h o r h i s e a r n i n g s t o c r e a t e a n e s t a t e
for his future and that or his family.
2. Gold laboureth diligently and contentedly for
the wise owner who finds for it profitable employ-
ment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.
3. G ol d c l i n g et h t o th e p rot ec ti on of t h e c a u-
ti ous ow n er w ho i n ves ts it un d er the a d vi c e of
men wise in its handling.
4. G ol d s l i p p e t h a w a y f r o m t h e m a n w h o i n-
v e s t s i t i n b u s i n e s s e s o r p u r p o s e s w i t h w h i c h
h e i s n o t f a m i l i a r o r w h i c h a r e n o t a p p r o v e d
by those skilled in its keep.
5. G o l d f l e e s t h e m a n w h o w o u l d f o r c e i t t o
imp ossi ble earnin gs or w ho foll ow eth the allur-
i n g a d v i c e o f t r i c k s t e r s a n d s c h e m e r s o r w h o
trusts it to hi s ow n i n exp eri en c e a n d rom a nti c
desires in investment.
" 'These are the five laws of gold as written by my
father. I do proclaim them as of greater value than
gold itself, as I will show by the continuance of my
tale.'
"He again faced his father. 'I have told thee of the
depth of poverty and despair to which my inexperi-
ence brought me.