"Then the parson departed with a few samples of ore in his pocket. He was just as happy in the thought of becoming rich as the others were. He was thinking of rebuilding the parsonage, which at present was no better than a peasant's cottage, and then he would marry a dean's daughter whom he liked. He had thought that he might have to wait for her many years! He was poor and obscure and knew that it would be a long while before he should get any post that would enable him to marry.
"The parson drove over to Falun in two days, and there he had to wait another whole day because the mining expert was away. Finally, he ran across him and showed him the bits of ore. The mining expert took them in his hand. He looked at them first, then at the parson. The parson related how he had found them in a mountain at home in his parish, and wondered if it might not be lead.
"'No, it's not lead,' said the mining expert.
"'Perhaps it is zinc, then?' asked the parson.
"'Nor is it zinc,' said the mineralogist.
"The parson thought that all the hope within him sank. He had not been so depressed in many a long day.
"'Have you many stones like these in your parish?' asked the mineralogist.
"'We have a whole mountain full,' said the parson.
"Then the mineralogist came up closer, slapped the parson on the shoulder, and said, 'Let us see that you make such good use of this that it will prove a blessing both to yourselves and to the country, for this is silver.'
"'Indeed?' said the parson, feeling his way. 'So it is silver!'