_One should always be helpful and respectful to the aged and
infirm, regardless of any return or reward._
Once upon a time there was an old woman who lived with her flock
of geese, in a small cottage in the woods. Every day she went to
the meadows and gathered a big bundle of grass to carry home to the
geese. She was very polite to everybody and said “Good morning,”
but nobody ever helped her carry her bundle.
One morning a lively young fellow saw the old woman.
“Ah, my good woman,” said the young man, “let me help you with the
bundle; my father is a rich count, but I am strong and willing to
help the poor.” The old woman thanked him and the young man lifted
the bundle to his shoulders and started home.
The bundle was very heavy and grew heavier every step he took. He
could hardly carry it, and tried to set it down, but to his dismay
he found that it had grown to his back and he could not get rid of
it. The old woman laughed and danced around as lively as a young
girl. When they reached the foot of the hill the old woman jumped
on the bundle and told the young man to hurry up for she wanted to
get home to feed the geese.
The young man staggered up the hill carrying the bundle and the old
woman. At last they came to the cottage. The old woman jumped down
and took the bundle off his shoulders and made the young man lie
down on a bench in front of the cottage. It was cool and refreshing
on the bench and the young man was tired.
Pretty soon the geese came home making all sorts of noise, for they
wanted the grass. A girl was driving them who was very ugly and
brown. The old woman said:
“Go inside, my daughter, for this young man might fall in love with
you.” But the young man laughed and said:
“Not very likely, for she is too old and is not at all pretty.” The
girl said nothing but went into the house.
By and by the old woman came out and said to the young man:
“You may go now, but you can have this box. It will bring you good
luck,” and she gave him a small box cut out of a single emerald. He
put it in his pocket and went on down the path, glad to get rid of
the old woman, her geese, and goose girl.
After three days the young man came to a large city and asked to
see the king and queen. They led him into the palace and he fell
down on his knees before the queen. “I am the son of a count and
have lost my way home. I pray you to believe me and to accept this
present,” said he, and gave her the box.
The queen was delighted with the young man and the beautiful box.
She took the box in her own hands and opened it. She saw it was
full of beautiful pearls. Then she began to cry as if her heart
would break, and the king was so angry he ordered the young man
away. We shall find out to-morrow what she was crying about.