A potter wrought at his wheel, singing as he wrought, turning out crocks
and pipkins of red clay. They were clumsy of shape and rude in the
making, yet they served to hold meal and milk, and the poor folk bought
of him. But ever, as he shaped the clay, the potter said to himself:
"Some day, some day, I will make a cup of gold for the Prince's
drinking!"
Now and again, when he was well paid for his pots, he would get a bit of
gold and put it by. This small hoard was precious to him as sunlight,
and bit by bit, little coin by little coin, it grew, till one day he had
enough. Then he left his clay, and with care and loving pains, his lathe
turning to the beat of his heart, he fashioned a little cup of gold.
"It is small," he said, "but it will hold wine for a single draught."
And he set it in the sun among his pots, where it could be seen of the
passers-by.
Presently rode by the Prince and his court, and saw the pots, and on one
the sun shining.
"Look!" said one of the courtiers, "if the potter have not gilded one of
his clay pipkins!"