304th story

A Cheapskate, miser man—so immensely wealthy—felt the approach of death and knew that all hope of remaining in this world had come to an end.

Realizing that his final hour was near, he summoned his beloved children to his bedside.

He said to them:

“My children, for many long years, I have endured hardship in the pursuit of wealth.

I have suffered the pains of travel and residence alike, tightening my throat with the grip of hunger and denying myself comfort, all so that I might accumulate this fortune.

Never, even for a moment, be careless in guarding it. Under no circumstances should you allow yourselves to spend it lightly or diminish it in any way.

If anyone comes to you and says, ‘I saw your father in a dream; he asks for charity to be prepared in his name,’ do not be deceived by such trickery. I have never spoken such words.

Even if I myself should appear to you in a dream and beg you with the same plea, you must not pay it any heed. Know that such things are nothing but dreams, illusions, and imaginings.

Remember this well: whatever I did not consume while alive, I will not give away once I am gone.”

Having spoken these words, he fell silent—and his soul was delivered into the custody of the Treasurer of Hell, while his wealth remained behind, unable to save him from his fate.

His children took their legal share, invested, paid charities, enjoyed life, ate well, and travelled, all against their father’s will.