FORTUNE AND THE BEGGAR
A poor beggar, with a ragged old bag, crept along the road one day, begging his bread.
As he went he grumbled to himself because there were so many rich men in the world.
"The rich never think that they have enough," he said to himself. "They always want more than they have. Now if I had a very little money, I should be happy. I should not want too much."
A fairy named Fortune, who brought good gifts to men, heard the poor beggar grumbling to himself and came to him.
"Friend," said Fortune, "I have wanted to help you. Open your bag. I will give you all the gold that it will hold. But if any falls out upon the ground, it will turn to dust. Your bag is old. Don't try to have it too full, for if you do, it will break, and you will lose all."
The beggar was so happy that he began to dance up and down.
He opened his bag and let the gold run into it in a big, yellow stream. Soon the bag was almost full.
"Is that enough?" asked Fortune.
"No," said the beggar, "not yet."
"The bag is old. It is going to break," said Fortune.
"Never fear!" said the beggar.
"But you are now a rich man. Isn't that enough?" asked Fortune.
"A little more," said the beggar.
"Now," said Fortune, "the bag is full, but take care, or you will lose it."
"Just a little more," said the beggar.
Fortune put in just a little more. The bag broke. All the gold fell through upon the ground and turned to dust.
The beggar had nothing left but his old broken bag. He was as poor as he had been before.
