A golden river flowed through the town. The people delighted in the river's fresh water. The water was sweet and bestowed health. When one poured the water through a sieve, grains of precious gold gathered. The townspeople had long been hearty and hard-working, and they labored happily to draw the water and sift it for its gold. From this gold, they wove garments and made delightful implements. Their town became known as a golden land.
As the years progressed, the people tired of drawing the water. They hired other people to do the work for them. They continued to wear garments of gold, but tired of their splendor. Frequently, they yawned.
It happened quickly. People said, "The river has lost its gold." In truth, the water still ran with gold, but with much less than before. The townspeople continued to wear their golden garments and complained of their poverty. In addition to yawning, they began to throw up their hands.
The people worried. They felt they must do something to address the thinning gold. However, mostly they flailed their hands. In this way, they sometimes hit each other unwittingly. They pursued small savings but were afraid to consider large ones. Their listlessness increased.
Once, one said, "Things will go very badly." The people nodded their heads in approval.
One said, "Things may go well. " The people continued to wave their hands and did not hear.
-- H. A. Massig המשיג
