Let me tell you a story I sometimes tell people in order to make a point.
A dusty little town out west featured treasure maps for sale. Each merchant had his own style
of maps and his own sales technique.
A decent young man driving through one day pulled over, looked about, and decided it was
time for him to make something of himself. So he bought one of the treasure maps from an
honest looking store owner.
This was going to be easy and the price was right.
He returned the next day and complained that there was no gold at the spot marked X.
However, he was determined and bought another map from the merchant next door. Again, he
returned the next day with the same complaint. Not being the kind that was easily dissuaded,
he bought another one and the same thing happened.
At last, he came across a gentleman map seller that showed him proof of gold right there in a
bucket on the floor of the store.
"This is it! At last!" The young man blurted out. He gladly paid the price and off he went. This
time he was gone for two days before returning. He walked into the store, slammed the map on
the counter and said, "hogwash."
Surprised, the merchant ask him, "If he did not indeed find the gold as promised."
The young man answered. "Well, I didn't have a chance to find out. You see." He continued in
an aggravated fashion. "You didn't tell me I had to cross a wide river, and you didn't tell me
that I had to climb a high mountain."
"But! I thought...." The owner began, but was interrupted. The young man held up his hand,
"Save it. I'm going next door and buy a map there."
"But why on earth would you do that?" The merchant questioned him. "You already know
they're fake and I have proof here in this bucket that mine are genuine."
"That may be so, " The young man answered, "But at least I won't have to swim rivers or climb
mountains."
Author: Al Coggins
A dusty little town out west featured treasure maps for sale. Each merchant had his own style
of maps and his own sales technique.
A decent young man driving through one day pulled over, looked about, and decided it was
time for him to make something of himself. So he bought one of the treasure maps from an
honest looking store owner.
This was going to be easy and the price was right.
He returned the next day and complained that there was no gold at the spot marked X.
However, he was determined and bought another map from the merchant next door. Again, he
returned the next day with the same complaint. Not being the kind that was easily dissuaded,
he bought another one and the same thing happened.
At last, he came across a gentleman map seller that showed him proof of gold right there in a
bucket on the floor of the store.
"This is it! At last!" The young man blurted out. He gladly paid the price and off he went. This
time he was gone for two days before returning. He walked into the store, slammed the map on
the counter and said, "hogwash."
Surprised, the merchant ask him, "If he did not indeed find the gold as promised."
The young man answered. "Well, I didn't have a chance to find out. You see." He continued in
an aggravated fashion. "You didn't tell me I had to cross a wide river, and you didn't tell me
that I had to climb a high mountain."
"But! I thought...." The owner began, but was interrupted. The young man held up his hand,
"Save it. I'm going next door and buy a map there."
"But why on earth would you do that?" The merchant questioned him. "You already know
they're fake and I have proof here in this bucket that mine are genuine."
"That may be so, " The young man answered, "But at least I won't have to swim rivers or climb
mountains."
Author: Al Coggins
Finding Gold
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