September 23, 2011 7:16:34 AM PDT
The Man Who Liked Money Better Than Life
In Shanghai there were many good swimmers. One day, the river suddenly swelled.In spite of the dangerous water level a small group of people decided to cross theriver in a small boat. While still in midstream, the boat capsized. Everyone began swimming for the river bank. One, however, though he used his arms vigorously,seemed to make little progress across the river.
His friends called to him. "Hurry up! You're a better swimmer than any of us. Why are you lagging behind?"
The man gasped, "I have a thousand coins tied around my waist."
"Why don't you throw them away?" his friends called. "We're afraid you mightdrown and none of us is good enough to save you."
The man made no answer, but just shook his head as though he was clearly in greatdifficulty.
When the others reached the shore and saw the man had made little progress, they shouted, "Untie the coin belt! Let it go, you fool! The money is no good to you if you drown."
Still the man shook his head, and within a few minutes, he drowned.
