Once upon a time, an old man went for a walk by the river and heard someone shouting. A merchant was drowning in the river, crying for help and unable to reach the shore.
The old man rushed over, grabbed a long branch, and helped the merchant get out of the water. The merchant didn’t know how to repay the old man, so he invited him to his home in the city, treated him to a meal, and gave him a piece of gold as big as a horse’s head.
The old man took the gold and went home. Opposite him appeared a horse trader who was herding a whole herd of horses:
“Hello, old man, where are you coming from?”
“From the city, from a rich merchant.”
“And what did the merchant give you?”
“A piece of gold the size of a horse’s head.”
“Give me the gold and choose the best horse.”
The old man chose the best horse, thanked him, and went on his way.
The old man was walking along when he met a shepherd driving a herd of oxen:
“Hello, old man, where are you coming from?”
“From the city, from a horse trader.”
“And what did the horse trader give you?”
“A piece of gold the size of a horse’s head.”
“And where is that gold?”
“I traded it for a horse!”
“Trade me your horse for any ox you want.”
The old man chose an ox, thanked him, and went on his way.
The old man was walking along when he met a shepherd driving a flock of sheep:
“Hello, old man, where are you coming from?”
“From a rich merchant in the city.”
“And what did the merchant give you?”
“A piece of gold the size of a horse’s head.”
“And where is that gold?”
“I traded it for a horse.”
“And where is the horse?”
“I traded it for an ox.”
“Trade me the ox for any ram you want!”
The old man took the best ram, thanked him, and went on his way.
An old man was walking along when he met a swineherd who was driving a herd of pigs toward him:
“Hello, old man, where have you been?”
“In the city, at a rich merchant’s.”
“What did the merchant give you?”
“A piece of gold the size of a horse’s head.”
“And where is the gold?”
“I traded it for a horse.”
“And where is the horse?”
“I traded it for an ox.”
“And where is the ox?”
“I traded it for a ram.”
“Give me the ram and take the best pig.”
The old man chose the pig, thanked the shepherd, and went on his way.
The old man was walking, and opposite him appeared a peddler with a basket on his back:
“Hello, old man! Where are you coming from?”
“From the merchant, from the city.”
“And what did the merchant give you?”
“A piece of gold the size of a horse’s head.”
“And where is the gold?”
“I traded it for a horse.”
“And where is the horse?”
“I traded it for an ox.”
“And where is the ox?”
“I traded it for a ram.”
“And where is the ram?”
“I traded it for a pig.”
“Trade me the pig for a needle, and choose whichever one you want.”
The old man chose the prettiest needle, thanked him, and went home. When the old man came home, he climbed over the fence and lost the needle.
The old woman ran out to meet the old man: “Oh, my darling! I was so desperate here without you. Well, tell me, did you go to the merchant?”
“I did.”
“And what did the merchant give you?”
“A piece of gold the size of a horse’s head.”
“And where is the gold?”
“I traded it for a horse.”
“And where is the horse?”
“I traded it for an ox.”
“And where is the ox?”
“I traded it for a ram.”
“And where is the ram?”
“I traded it for a piglet.”
“And where is the piglet?”
“I traded it for a needle. I wanted to bring you a gift, my darling, but I climbed over the fence and lost the needle.”
“Well, thank God, my dear, that you are back. Let’s go inside and have dinner!”
And so the old man and the old woman live happily ever after, even without gold.
