The Legend of the Cobbler and The Elm Tree
Once upon a time, in the quiet village of Polden lived a wise but poor old cobbler named Alfred. He was known not for his skill as a shoemaker but rather for his golden heart and humility. His tiny cottage was home to a magical elm tree, which was recognized for more than its enchanting beauty.
Each year, at the commencement of spring, the tree bore stunningly luminous fruits, dare called by the villagers as the 'Fruits of Fortune.' Each fruit was believed to hold one fortune, bestowing immense wealth upon the one who tasted it. However, Alfred, despite possessing the tree, remained penniless, contentedly living his humble life. His purity of intention was never shaken by the greed of wealth nor the grandeur it could accord.
Among the village folks, lived a greedy landlord named Bertrand. He owned various lands in Polden but remained incognizant of the magical tree's secret. When he found out about it by chance, his greed had no bounds. Scheming to acquire those fruits for himself, he approached the old cobbler with a deceptive deal, aiming to buy the tree. However, Alfred, aware of Bertrand's insatiable greed, refused to give away the tree, aware of the consequential doom it could bring.
Dejected but full of resolve, Bertrand attempted stealing the fruits one night. But the magic of the tree was not so straightforward. It could sense intentions, good or bad, and reacted accordingly. When Bertrand approached it with his greed-infested heart, the magic of the tree transfigured him to a stone statue, leaving him forlorn in the middle of the night.
In the morning, the villagers found the grotesque stone figure of Bertrand, holding a fruit halfway to his mouth, frozen in his ultimate act of greed. This aroused immense fear among the villagers, who then understood the sublime power of the magical tree and learned the perilousness of greed.
Elm tree, as if rewarding Alfred for his selflessness, bore a single fruit the next day. Surprisingly, this fruit was brighter and bigger. Alfred, unsure, tasted the fruit, and suddenly, he found a bag of gold coins by his feet. The magic had bestowed him the fortune this time not because he wished for it but because it wished for him.
With the newfound wealth, Alfred didn't lose his modesty, his golden heart still firmly lodged in its place. He used this wealth to foster the village, helping the needy, building infrastructure and enhancing the living standards of Polden. This enchanted the villagers, who revered him as their benefactor and idol.
The legend of the cobbler, Bertrand, and the magical tree passed on for ages, leaving the generations to decipher the inevitable truth - the essence of humility and doom of avarice depicted in the lives of two strikingly different men. His life reiterated the powerful lesson where greed ruins while humility rules.