Chapter 2

When they came to the land of Utopia, he discovered the statue of a man erected on an open plain, which had this inscription on the pedestal: "On May-day in the morning, when the sun rises, I shall have a _Head of Gold_." As it was now the latter end of April, he staid to see this wonderful change; and, in the mean time, inquiring of a poor shepherd what was the reason of the statue being erected there, and with that inscription, he was informed, that it was set up many years ago by an Arabian philosopher, who travelled all the world over in search of a real friend, that he lived with, and was extremely fond of, a great man who inhabited the next mountain; but that on some occasion they quarrelled, and the philosopher, leaving the mountain, retired into the plain, where he erected this statue with his own hands, and soon after died. To this he added, that all the people for many leagues round came there every May morning, expecting to see the stone head turned to gold.

Tom got up very early on the first of May to behold this amazing change, and when he came near the statue, he saw a number of people, who all ran away from him in the utmost consternation, having never before seen a lion follow a man like a lap-dog. Being thus left alone, he fixed his eyes on the sun, then rising with resplendent majesty, and afterwards turned to the statue, but could see no change in the stone.--"Surely," says he to himself, "there is some mystical meaning in this! This inscription must be an ænigma, the hidden meaning of which I will endeavour to find; for a philosopher never would expect a stone to be turned to gold." Accordingly he measured the length of the shadow, which the statue gave on the ground by the sun shining on it, and marked that particular part where the head fell; then getting a chopness, a thing like a spade, and digging, he discovered a copper chest, full of gold, with this inscription engraved on the lid of it, "Thy _wit_, oh man! whoever thou art, hath disclosed the ænigma, and discovered the _Golden Head_. Take it and use it: but use it with wisdom; for know, that _Gold_, properly employed, may dispense blessings, and promote the happiness of mortals; but when hoarded up, or misapplied, is but trash, that makes mankind miserable. Remember the unprofitable servant, who hid his _talent_ in a napkin; and the profligate son who squandered away his substance, and fed with the swine. As thou hast got the _Golden Head_, observe the _Golden Mean_; be _good_, and be happy."

This lesson, coming as it were from the dead, struck him with such an awe and reverence for piety and virtue, that before he removed the treasure, he kneeled down, and earnestly and fervently prayed that he might make a prudent, just and proper use of it. He then conveyed the chest away; but how he got it to England is not known. It may not be improper, however, in this place, to give the reader some account of the philosopher who hid this treasure, and took so much pains to find a true and real friend to enjoy it. As Tom had reason to venerate his memory, he was very particular in his inquiry, and had this character of him: That he was a man well acquainted with nature and with trade; that he was pious, friendly, and of a sweet and affable disposition; that he had acquired a fortune by commerce, and having no relation to leave it to, he travelled through Arabia, Persia, India, Lybia, and Utopia, in search of a real friend. In this pursuit he found several, with whom he had exchanged good offices, and who were polite and obliging; but they often flew off for trifles, or as soon as he pretended to be in distress, and requested their assistance, had left him to struggle with his own difficulties. So true is that copy in our books, which says, "Adversity is the touchstone of friendship."

At last, however, he met in with the Utopian Philosopher, or the Wise Man of the Mountain, as he is called, and thought in him he had found the friend he wanted; for though he had often pretended to be in distress, and abandoned to the frowns of fortune, this man always relieved him, and with such chearfulness and sincerity, that concluding he had found out the only man to whom he ought to open both his purse and his heart, he let him so far into his secrets, as to desire his assistance in hiding a large sum of money, which he wanted to conceal, lest the prince of the country, who was absolute, should, by the advice of his wicked minister, put him to death for his gold. The two philosophers met and hid the money, which the stranger, after some days, went to see, but found it gone. How was he struck to the heart, when he found that his friend, whom he had often tried, and who had relieved him in his distress, could not withstand this temptation, but broke through the sacred bonds of friendship, and turned even a thief for gold which he did not want, as he was already very rich! "Oh!" said he, "what is the heart of man made of? Why am I condemned to live among people who have no sincerity, and barter the most sacred ties of friendship and humanity for the dirt that we tread on? Had I lost my gold, and found a real friend, I should have been happy with the exchange, but now I am most miserable." After some time he wiped off his tears, and being determined not to be so imposed on, he had recourse to cunning and the arts of life. He went to his pretended friend with a chearful countenance, told him he had more gold to hide, and desired him to appoint a time when they might go together and open the earth, to put it into the same pot; the other, in hopes of getting more wealth, appointed the next evening. They went together upon the ground, and found the money they had first placed there, for the artful wretch he so much confided in, had conveyed it again into the pot, in order to obtain more. Our philosopher immediately took the gold, and putting it into his pocket, told the other he had now altered his mind, and should bury it no more, till he found a man more worthy of his confidence. See what people lose by being dishonest!

Remember this story, and take care whom you trust; but do not be covetous, sordid, and miserable; for the gold we have, is but lent us to do good with. We receive all from the hand of God, and every person in distress hath a just title to a portion of it.

FINIS.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Errors and Anomalies (noted by transcriber):

These spellings are standard for the book: acrostick, chearful dervise [for dervish], Lybia, Scheich [for sheikh?], Visier

he came more chearful than the morning [_text unchanged_] but no white mouse was to be found. [_. missing or invisible_] the arching branches of a Banana tree [_text unchanged, but author may have intended "Banyan"_] come near her a second time." [_closing " missing_] the discourse between the fairies and the genies [faries] [_the words "fairy" and "fairies" occur many times_] twenty load of the richest merchandise [_text unchanged: usage may be normal for 1816_]