[00:15.73]When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers.
[00:22.58]I went at once to a shop where they sold toys for children.
[00:27.59]Being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I had seen by the way,
[00:31.46]in the hands of another boy, I handed over all my money for one.
[00:36.59]I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle,
[00:42.54]but disturbing all the family. My brothers and sisters and cousins,
[00:48.22]when I told of the bargain I had made, said I had given four times as much as the whistle was worth.
[00:55.51]They put me in mind of what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money,
[01:00.55]and laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with vexation.
[01:06.26]Thinking about the matter gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
[01:12.41]This, however, was afterwards of use to me, for the impression continued on my mind,
[01:19.11]so that often, when I was tempted to buy something I did not need, I said to myself,
[01:25.53]“Don’t give too much for the whistle,” and I saved my money.
[01:30.47]As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men,
[01:35.75]I thought I met with many, very many, who “gave too much for the whistle.”
[01:42.93]When I saw some men too eager for a court favour, wasting his time at court gatherings,
[01:48.58]giving up his rest, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, for royal favour,
[01:55.61]I said to myself - “This man gives too much for the whistle.”
[02:01.40]When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly taking part in political affairs,
[02:07.29]neglecting his own business, and ruining it by neglect, “He pays, indeed,” said I, “too dear for his whistle.”
[02:17.59]If I knew a miser who gave up every kind of comfortable living,
[02:21.85]all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow citizens and the joys of friendship,
[02:28.84]for the sake of gathering and keeping wealth - “Poor man,” said I,
[02:34.05]“you pay too dear for your whistle.” When I met a man of pleasure,
[02:39.75]who did not try to improve his mind or his fortune but merely devoted himself to having a good time,
[02:46.31]perhaps neglecting his health, “Mistaken man,” said I, “you are providing pain for yourself,
[02:53.50]instead of pleasure; you are paying too dear for your whistle.”
[02:58.12]If I saw someone fond of appearance who had fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine earrings,
[03:06.86]all above his fortune, and for which he had run into debt, and ends his career in a prison.
[03:14.88]“Alas,” said I, “he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.”
[03:22.03]In short the miseries of mankind are largely due to their putting a false value on things -
[03:29.57]to giving “too much for their whistles”.
