In the small village of Elmswood, there lived a humble farmer named Jacob. Jacob was known for his kindness, always ready to lend a helping hand to his neighbors.
However, his own farm was struggling; the soil was poor, and
the harvests were meager. Despite his hardships, Jacob never hesitated to share
whatever little he had with those in need.
One chilly autumn morning, while walking through the village
square, Jacob noticed a beautiful yet peculiar box lying abandoned by the side
of the road.
The box was small, intricately carved with swirling
patterns, and had a faint golden glow. Curious, Jacob picked it up and opened
it. Inside was a single seed, shining with a strange light.
Jacob decided to plant the seed in the barren soil of his
farm, hoping it might bring some luck. Days passed, and to his amazement, the
seed sprouted into a magnificent tree that grew at an incredible pace.
Within a week, the tree bore fruit—glimmering golden apples
that seemed to hold the warmth of the sun within them.
Word of Jacob’s miraculous tree spread quickly, and soon,
people from nearby villages came to see the wonder.
Some offered Jacob great sums of money for the golden
apples, but he refused, choosing instead to share the fruit with those who were
hungry and poor.
One day, a wealthy merchant visited Jacob, offering him a
fortune for the tree. Jacob politely declined, explaining that the tree was a
gift meant to be shared.
The merchant, driven by greed, tried to steal the tree under
the cover of darkness. But as he touched the tree, it vanished, leaving behind
only a withered seed.
The next morning, Jacob found the seed lying where the tree
once stood. Instead of feeling sorrow, he planted the seed again, and once more,
the tree grew and bore fruit.
This time, however, Jacob noticed that the fruit didn’t
shine as brightly, and he realized that the tree’s true value wasn’t in the
gold, but in the joy and hope it brought to others.
Jacob continued to share the apples, never asking for
anything in return. And in time, his farm prospered, the soil becoming rich and
fertile.
The villagers often remarked how Jacob’s generosity had
brought prosperity not just to his farm but to the entire village.
Moral of The Story:
True wealth lies in generosity and kindness, for the more you give, the more
you receive in return. Selflessness brings lasting prosperity, while greed
leads only to loss.