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 into another room , where dinner was laid for them . Table and seats were all of silver , while the dishes and plates were of solid gold . Directly they sat down , a dozen little servants appeared to wait on them , which they did so cleverly and so quickly that Hans could hardly believe they had no wings . As they did not reach as high as the table , they were often obliged to jump and hop right on to the top to get at the dishes . Everything was new to Hans , and though he was rather bewildered he enjoyed himself very much , especially when the man with the golden crown began to tell him many things he had never heard of before . ` Between Christmas and the New Year , ' said he , ' I often amuse myself by wandering about the earth watching the doings of men and learning something about them . But as far as I have seen and heard I can not speak well of them . The greater part of them are always quarrelling and complaining of each other 's faults , while nobody thinks of his own . '
Hans tried to deny the truth XXXXX these words , but he could not do it , and sat silent , hardly listening to what his friend was saying .
If In after as for of that though through while