The Benevolent Baker of Venice
Long ago, in the beautiful city of Venice, lived an ordinary baker, Antonio. Antonio wasn’t wealthy like the noblemen of his city; however, he was content with his small but fulfilled life with his loving wife, Maria, and their two adorable children.
One day, Antonio was visited by an old, haggard woman. Her appearance was disconcerting, yet there was a sort of sagacity in her eyes which intrigued Antonio. The woman requested a loaf of bread. Antonio, being the kind-hearted man he was, didn’t just give her a single loaf but filled her basket with a variety of breads.
In return, the woman gave Antonio a small seed and said, 'Plant this seed in your backyard and water it with love and patience. You shall receive something in return that shall immensely help you in times of duress.' Without understanding the cryptic message, Antonio accepted the seed as an appreciation of his kindness.
As days went by, Antonio nurtured the seed which soon grew into a beautiful, luxurious Jade Vine. As predicted by the woman, when the vine bore its first flower, there was a temporary recession in Antonio's business. The bread’s quality suffered due to unavailability of good quality flour. It was during this time when Antonio noticed that the vine’s flowers had turned into loaves of bread. Astonished, he tried one and found them better than his own. Soon, his business flourished again.
Years passed and the beautiful city of Venice was hit by a terrible famine. Antonio selflessly distributed loaves of bread from the magical vine. This act of kindness was noticed by the benevolent king. He rewarded Antonio with a seat in his court for his generosity and kindness. Antonio used this opportunity to improve conditions for the poor, eventually becoming the most respected man in Venice. And to this day, the legacy of Antonio, the generous baker of Venice, is still remembered.
At the end of this tale, we learn valuable life lessons. Kindness is a virtue that pays, and that patience and love can work miracles.