The Cobbler and the Golden Wishing Tree🔊

In a secluded village nestled between the curvaceous hillside and an undisturbed riverside, there lived a poor cobbler, named Elias. He was a plain, hardworking man, known for his meticulous craftsmanship and modest personality.

One day, a beggar approached Elias's humble shop. His threadbare clothes were in tatters, his feet wrapped in ragged cloth, scarred by the harshness of his journey. The beggar humbly requested Elias to mend his shoes, but Elias, moved by the man's pitiful state, decided to make a brand-new pair for him. The cobbler worked through the night stiching each panel carefully, ensuring the shoes were comfortable and sturdy.

The following morning, the beggar returned to collect his shoes. His eyes welled up with gratitude as he tried on the new shoes. They felt like heaven to his battered feet. Unable to pay in gold, the beggar gifted Elias a tiny seed, promising it had the power to grant a single desire to whoever planted it.

Contented with the simple life he led and driven by curiosity, Elias planted the seed in a small pot near his window. The next morning, to his astonishment a tiny sprout had shot up. Intrigued, Elias nurtured and cared for it and words 'I wish to feel true happiness,' slipped his lips. He did not expect anything to happen, but a strange sense of peace washed over him.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. The plant grew, and so did Elias's contentment. From helping the lady next door with her groceries, to teaching children how to mend shoes, Elias delved into various things he never imagined. His happiness did not derive from materialistic gains but from the smiles and gratitude echoed by the villagers.

One day, the serene peace of his little village was disrupted. News of immense famine and drought in the neighbouring town reached their ears. Kind-hearted Elias felt a deep sense of despair. He wanted to help, but all he had were his skills and the little money he had saved.

Suddenly, Elias remembered the magical seed. Could it be possible to make another wish? That night, Elias gazed at the magnificent tree it had grown into and whispered, 'I wish for the neighbouring town to recover from their famine and experience prosperity.'

When Elias woke up, his tree had sprouted golden apples. Imbued with his selfless wish, each apple represented abundance and prosperity. Word quickly spread, and soon the entire village and people from the neighbouring town flocked around the tree. Elias guided them, ensuring the apples were distributed evenly amongst the people and the fragile balance of nature wasn't disturbed.

The more they plucked, the more it grew, and soon the town was flourishing again. News of the miraculous golden apples reached the capital, and the king, marveled by Elias's benevolence, bestowed him with land, gold, and a title. But Elias, the humble cobbler, asked only that his fellow townsmen be given jobs and education. His wish was granted, transforming his village into a prosperous town.

Elias’s story travelled through generations, reminding everyone the joy of giving, and the happiness and prosperity it brings. And such remained the legend of the humble Cobbler and the Golden Wishing Tree.