At last , when he had almost made up his mind that he must accept the next place offered him , he happened to knock at the door of a rich merchant who was in need of a scullion , and gladly agreed to do the cook 's bidding , and it was in this merchant 's house that he first learned how great were the riches of the land of Kungla . All the vessels which in other countries are made of iron , copper , brass , or tin , in Kungla were made of silver , or even of gold . The food was cooked in silver saucepans , the bread baked in a silver oven , while the dishes and their covers were all of gold . Even the very pigs ' troughs were of silver too . But the sight of these things only made Tiidu more covetous than before . ` What is the use of all this wealth that I have constantly before my eyes , ' thought he , ` if none of it is mine ? I shall never grow rich by what I earn as a scullion , even though I am paid as much in a month as I should get elsewhere in a year . ' By this time he had been in his place for two years , and had put by quite a large sum of money . His passion of saving had increased to such a pitch that it was only by his master 's orders that he ever bought any new clothes , ` For , ' said the merchant , ' I will not have dirty people in my house . ' So with a heavy heart Tiidu spent some of his next month 's wages on a cheap coat . One day the merchant held a great feast in honour of the christening of his youngest child , and he gave each of his servants a handsome garment for the occasion . The following Sunday , Tiidu , who liked fine clothes when he did not have to pay for them , put on his new coat , and went for a walk to some beautiful pleasure gardens , which were always full of people on a sunny day . He sat down under a shady tree , and watched the passers-by , but after a little he began to feel rather lonely , for he knew nobody and nobody knew him . Suddenly his eyes fell on the figure of an old man , which seemed familiar to him , though he could not tell when or where he had seen it . He watched the figure for some time , till at length the old man left the crowded paths , and threw himself on the soft grass under a lime tree , which stood at some distance from where Tiidu was sitting . Then the young man walked slowly past , in order that he might look at him more closely , and as he did so the old man smiled , and held out his hand . ` What have you done with your pipes ? ' asked he ; and then in a moment Tiidu knew him . Taking his arm he drew him into a quiet place and told him all that had happened since they had last met . The old man shook his head as he listened , and when Tiidu had finished his tale , he said : ' A fool you are , and a fool you will always be !
Was there ever such a piece of folly as to exchange your pipes for a XXXXX 's ladle ?
Kungla Tiidu day first left month saucepans scullion year years