If it is fairy gold it will disappear within 24 hours,
and will therefore do no one any good. If it is real money, then
your beetle must have robbed some one of the gold and placed it in
your well. For all money belongs to some one, and if you have not
earned it honestly, but have come by it in the mysterious way you
mention, it was surely taken from the persons who owned it, without
their consent. Where else could real money come from?"
The farmer and his wife were confused by this statement and looked
guiltily at each other, for they were honest people and wished to
wrong no one.
"Then you think the beetle stole the money?" asked the woman.
"By his magic powers he probably took it from its rightful owners.
Even bugs which can speak have no consciences and cannot tell the
difference between right and wrong. With a desire to reward you for
your kindness the beetle took from its lawful possessors the money
you pumped from the well."
"Perhaps it really is fairy gold," suggested the man. "If so, we
must go to the town and spend the money before it disappears."
"That would be wrong," answered the pastor; "for then the merchants
would have neither money nor goods.
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