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A coolie worked every day in accordance with his need. He earned only as much as he needed and thus lived without any care. One day, he was able to earn the usual amount by midday. So he sat in quiet, without a thought. At that very moment a businessman called him for carrying a pitcher full of oil. The coolie refused since he had already earned enough for the day. The businessman wanted to reach home urgently and no other coolie was available at that time. So, he offered a temptation by saying, "Come, lift the pitcher. I'll give you a rupee." (A rupee in those days had ten times its present value). The mention of a rupee made the coolie's eyes gleam. He lifted the pitcher on his head, and followed the businessman.
As he went along, the coolie said to himself, “Today, I shall be earning one rupee extra. What am I going to do with it? Why not buy a hen? The hen would lay eggs. I'll sell the eggs and earn more money. Later I might as well buy a goat. The goat would yield milk and also calves. I would sell the whole lot and buy a cow. The cow, too, would breed many calves. By disposing them of, I should have a lot of more money. This would enable me to buy a mare. I would then start some small business. As my business prospers, I wquld become quite famous. Now I would lack no money. I would get a building constructed in this very city. I might as well marry and beget children." The coolie got so absorbed in his stream of thought, that every imaginary picture appeared to him to be real. Now he imagined himself sitting and working in his office situated in the outer part of his building. Inside the house there was a great hustle and bustle; the children were making merry. Then the children suddenly entered his office to call him for lunch. Even though they called twice or thrice, he did not respond, and kept busy
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