> > Old Recluse > A certain old recluse lived deep in the mountains of Colorado. When he > died, certain relatives came from the city to collect his valuables. > Upon arriving, all they saw was an old shack with an outhouse beside it. > Inside the shack, next to the rock fireplace, was an old cooking pot and > his mining equipment. A cracked table with a three-legged chair stood > guard by a tiny window, and a kerosene lamp served as the centerpiece > for the table. In a dark corner of the little room was a dilapidated cot > with a threadbare bedroll on it. > They picked up some of the old relics and started to leave. As they were > driving away, an old friend of the recluse, on his mule, flagged them > down. "Do you mind if I help myself to what's left in my friend's > cabin?" He asked. "Go right ahead," they replied. After all, they > thought, what inside that shack could be worth anything? > The old friend entered the shack and walked directly over to the table. > He reached under it and lifted one of the floorboards. He then proceeded > to take out all the gold his friend had discovered over the past 53 > years -- enough to have built a palace. The recluse died with only his > friend knowing his true worth. > As the friend looked out of the little window and watched the cloud of > dust behind the relative's car disappear, he said, "They shoulda got to > know him better." > By Carl Muir > «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«