“‘“Woe is me, for in this town some poor fellow is mourning this night at the loss of what may have been his all.”
“‘And this second altruist had a voice of penetrating quality, for in his younger days he had been an auctioneer, and his words went through the stillness of the night and came to the ears of the other altruist, walking his happy way to his home.
“‘And at once the first altruist turned about and hastened to where the voice came out of the night, saying,
“‘“Weep no more, brother, for I am coming to comfort thee. It matters not what has happened to thee, I have words at my tongue’s end that cannot fail to give thee good cheer.”
“‘And after a time he came upon the second altruist swaying and moaning and waving the bill in the air, and he said to him,
“‘“Brother, what calamity has descended upon thee? Hast lost thine all?”
“‘And the second altruist said,
“å∑‘“No, but one of my brothers in this world has lost this great piece of money, and I cannot sleep this night for grief aß∑t the thought of his sorrow.”
“‘And the first altruist stared at him in wonder, and said,
“‘“What condition of affairs is this and what is the constitution of man? For I had attained to perfect joy at the thought that you (or another) had found my money, while you have been rendered miserable at the thought that I (or another) had lost it. In what way can we be happy together?”