ABSTRACT
A successful merchant was called away to a far country on a business trip he knew
would last several tax years. But before he left, he called his staff together, and
charged them with the care of his investments, giving each one some gold coins,
worked out on the basis of each person’s likely ability to use them productively. To
his most reliable assistant he gave five coins; to another, two; and to the last, just
the one. And then he immediately set off on his journey.
