Hans thought he would count them for fun , and had already reached the five hundred and seventieth when his host returned and cried , laughing : ` Do not try to count them , it would take too long ; choose some of the bars from the heap , as I should like to make you a present of them . ' Hans did not wait to be asked twice , and stooped to pick up a bar of gold , but though he put forth all his strength he could not even move it with both hands , still less lift it off the ground . ` Why , you have no more power than a flea , ' laughed the host ; ` you will have to content yourself with feasting your eyes upon them ! ' So he bade Hans follow him through other rooms , till they entered one bigger than a church , filled , like the rest , with gold and silver . Hans wondered to see these vast riches , which might have bought all the kingdoms of the world , and lay buried , useless , he thought , to anyone . ` What is the reason , ' he asked of his guide , ` that you gather up these treasures here , where they can do good to nobody ? If they fell into the hands of men , everyone would be rich , and none need work or suffer hunger . ' ` And it is exactly for that reason , ' answered he , ` that I must keep these riches out of their way . The whole world would sink to idleness if men were not forced to earn their daily bread . It is only through work and care that man can ever hope to be good for anything . ' Hans stared at these words , and at last he begged that his host would tell him what use it was to anybody that this gold and silver should lie mouldering there , and the owner of it be continually trying to increase his treasure , which already overflowed his store rooms . ' I am not really a man , ' replied his guide , ` though I have the outward form of one , but one of those beings to whom is given the care of the world . It is my task and that of my workmen to prepare under the earth the gold and silver , a small portion of which finds its way every year to the upper world , but only just enough to help them carry on their business . To none comes wealth without trouble : we must first dig out the gold and mix the grains with earth , clay , and sand . Then , after long and hard seeking , it will be found in this state , by those who have good luck or much patience . But , my friend , the hour of dinner is at hand . If you wish to remain in this place , and feast your eyes on this gold , then stay till I call you . ' In his absence Hans wandered from one treasure chamber to another , sometimes trying to break off a little lump of gold , but never able to do it . After awhile his host came back , but so changed that Hans could not believe it was really he . His silken clothes were of the brightest flame colour , richly trimmed with gold fringes and lace ; a golden girdle was round his waist , while his head was encircled with a crown of gold , and precious stones twinkled about him like stars in a winter 's night , and in place of his wooden stick he held a finely worked golden staff .
The lord of all this treasure locked the doors and put the keys in his pocket , then led Hans XXXXX another room , where dinner was laid for them .
In So into of than through till to upon with