CHAPTER 2 THE GREEDY BEGGAR

Once there was an old beggar. He always sat by the wayside and begged. Although he sat there from morning till evening, he got only a little money. Sometimes he did not get enough to buy food for himself.

One day, as he was sitting usually by the wayside, a poor man passed that way The beggar said to himself, "How foolish some people are! Though they have a lot of money, they want still more. Look at that man. Once he was a rich merchant. But what a fool he was! He wanted to become richer still. So he built ships and sent them to trade with far off countries. And what happened? All his ship sank and he lost his fortune.

" Though I am very poor, I do not want much. A little will satisfy me. I want just enough for my needs. I am not at all greedy.

just at this moment, the Goddess of fortune was passing down the street. she heard the beggar muttering like this. she at once appeared before him. " Listen! " said the goddess, " I have longed wished to help you. I am ready to do so. Now I will give you enough gold to buy food and clothing for the rest of your life. But since you not greedy, you will not want much. Take up that bag of yours, and I will pour into it some gold coins from my ' Horn of plenty'. But there is one conditions ; all that falls into your bag shall be pure gold, but every coin that falls upon the ground shall turn into dust do you agree to this

conditions? "

" Yes, " said the beggar.

" Very well, " said the Goddess , " Now take your bag, but be careful. Since your bag is old, it will not hold much. "

The beggar was very pleased. Fortune, at last, smiled upon him. He at once bent forward to catch the gold coins as they fell in a stream from the wonderful Horn of Plenty.

The old bag soon began to grow heavy.

" Is that enough? " asked the Goddess of fortune.

" Not yet, " replied thr the beggar.

" Never fear that ; it will surely hold a little more. "