Long ago there was a humble shepherd who had seven sheep. Every day he took them to graze on a high mountain. One day, as usual, he took the sheep out to graze. He leaned on his staff, looked around and began to dream about how wonderful it would be if everything was cheaper.
He wondered how he could give his children enough to eat and a better life. Suddenly a little man in a red cap and a long white beard appeared in front of him.
“Follow me,” said the little man. “You won’t regret it.”
The shepherd did not hesitate and followed him. The little man held a strange root in his hand. They came to a rock and the little man struck the rock three times with the root. With a thunderous crash, the rock parted, revealing a dark, deep cave. The shepherd stood in amazement, shaking his head in disbelief. The little man stepped inside and the shepherd followed him cautiously.
Inside the cave, a fire burned, and small dwarves with stony faces worked around it. They
were forging all sorts of objects out of gold: shining crowns, heavy chains, ornate goblets and rings with jewels. The shepherd’s eyes crossed when he saw so much wealth in one place. Gold glittered all around.
“Take as much as you can carry,” said the little man, placing the root on the ground and disappearing without a trace.
The shepherd didn’t hesitate and filled his pockets to the brim with gold. Then he hurried out of the cave. As he stepped into the meadow, the rock closed behind him with a thunderous crash. The gold jingled happily in his pockets on the way home.
With the gold, the shepherd had bought plenty of food, dressed his children in new clothes and shoes, and still had plenty of money left over. When news of his wealth spread through the village, many tried to find the entrance to the cave. But the mountain remained closed and to this day no one has been able to reopen it.
