"Behold," said the burden, "the folly of mankind: they cannot perceive that the quality of the burdens of life is a matter of no importance. The question of pounds and ounces is the only consideration of any real weight."
LVII.
A ghost meeting a genie, one wintry night, said to him:
"Extremely harassing weather, friend. Wish I had some teeth to chatter!"
"You do not need them," said the other; "you can always chatter those of other people, by merely showing yourself. For my part, I should be content with some light employment: would erect a cheap palace, transport a light-weight princess, threaten a small cripple—or jobs of that kind. What are the prospects of the fool crop?"
"For the next few thousand years, very good. There is a sort of thing called Literature coming in shortly, and it will make our fortune. But it will be very bad for History. Curse this phantom apparel! The more I gather it about me the colder I get."
"When Literature has made our fortune," sneered the genie, "I presume you will purchase material clothing."
"And you," retorted the ghost, "will be able to advertise for permanent employment at a fixed salary."
This fable shows the difference between the super natural and the natural "super": the one appears in the narrative, the other does not.