When he says "I tried to tell 'em that I found a pearl, well..." it seems like he is referencing the book The Pearl. It makes sense because afterward he says "Like I told you, be careful what you're asking for" and in the book the guy thought the giant pearl would make him rich, but nobody paid him anything for it. And he ended up becoming a murderer... read the book.
When he says "I tried to tell 'em that I found a pearl, well..." it seems like he is referencing the book The Pearl. It makes sense because afterward he says "Like I told you, be careful what you're asking for" and in the book the guy thought the giant pearl would make him rich, but nobody paid him anything for it. And he ended up becoming a murderer... read the book.