I will ask, I will beg, and thus maintain my lot,
And never suffer you to be paid away.
Stories of misers are to be found in every country, and in Chinese Folk-lore it is told of a mean and stingy king that in peace time he caused his cavalry to dismount, that their horses might be used in the Government mills. War came; the horses were returned to the men, but they kept to their habit, and still persisted in going in a circle.—Dennys.
There is a saying also amongst the Punjabis that all misers are wretched, and collect money only for others to enjoy. They tell a tale of a miser who was once visited by some friends, and he advanced to meet them, and said:
“Aoo bow sujjeenâh
Ghur bar Toomhâhrâ
Khur. Peeoh apnâh
Burthun Khumbiarrâh
Rul mil Charreeay ‘Kicheree,’
Purr ‘Ghee’ Toomhâhrâ