When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coins. I went at once to a shop where they sold1for children. Being attracted by the sound of the whistle that I had seen in the hands of another boy, I handed over all my money for2. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, quite3with my whistle, but disturbing all the family.4I told my brothers and sisters the bargain* I had made, they said I had given four times as much as the whistle was worth. They put me in mind of what good things I night have bought5the rest of the money, and laughed at me because I made the decision so6.Thinking about the matter gave me more7than the pleasure that the whistle gave me.
From then on, when I wanted to buy something I did not need indeed, I said to myself. "Don't give too much for the whistle," and!8my money. As I grew up and came into the world, I met with many, very many,9gave too much for the whistle.
lf I knew a miser who10every kind or comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others and all the joys of friendship in order to gather and keep the wealth —"11 man," said I," you pay too much for your whistle. "When I met a man of pleasure, who did not try to improve his mind but12spent most of his time having a good time, paying no attention to his health, "Mistaken man, you are bringing13to yourself, instead of pleasure; you are paying too much for your whistle." if I saw someone who was crazy about his own14put his money into fine clothes, bags and earrings, and for which he had run into debt. "Also," said I, "he has paid much, too much, for his whistle."
In short, the great sufferings of humans are largely due to their putting a15value on things. They give "too much for their whistle."
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