The Tale of the Golden Apple🔊

Once upon a time, in a small farming town named Keene, lived a young farmer named Henry. He was a kind and gentle soul, a diligent worker who knew more about the earth and its produce than anyone else in the town. One of his most prized possessions was a golden apple, a special fruit that he nurtured over the years.

Every sunrise, he would carefully water it and sing hymns that he believed would make the apple grow more radiant and healthful. And perhaps it did, for the apple glowed like nature's own sun.

One fateful afternoon, a stranger dressed in a tattered cloak knocked on Henry’s farmhouse door. His face was lined with years of agony and sorrow, and when he spoke, his voice was nothing more than a coarse whisper. He introduced himself as Eli. Eli claimed he was a wanderer, traversing across lands while surviving on the kindness of people. Henry, being the kind soul he was, offered Eli sustenance and shelter for the night.

While dining, Eli’s eyes spotted the golden apple casting its glow from its spot on the windowsill. He asked about it, to which Henry proudly shared its story, subtly hinting at its supposed magical property of health and longevity. Eli was fascinated, even more so when he was allowed to hold it.

The next morning, Henry woke up to find Eli missing. To his despair, so was the golden apple. Heartbroken, he motivated himself to search for Eli, to get his treasured fruit back. His journey took him through expansive meadows, dense forests, fast rivers, each filled with its own challenges and dangers. Often, he was near giving up but the thought of his golden apple spurred him on.

In a small bustling city about three days to the east of Keene, Henry finally found Eli, now appearing rested and nourished. Eli was deep in conversation with an official-looking gentleman. Without wasting a moment, Henry approached them both, demanding his apple's return. Eli, noticing how bitter Henry had turned, carefully pulled out the golden apple from his sack and handed it over to Henry, who held it with a teary-eyed relief.

However, before leaving, Eli posed a question, “Henry, did the apple change my fate, or did the kindness you showered onto a stranger?” With a confused look, Henry turned back to Eli, only to see him vanishing into the thick crowd.

Walking back to Keene, Henry reflected upon his journey and the message Eli left him with. He realized the fruit's mystic importance had diluted his innate nature of kindness and humility. The golden apple, he felt, was mere symbolism, a distraction from his real treasure – his kind heart. It also dawned upon him that his pursuit for the golden apple had allowed him to explore and experience a world beyond his farm.

On returning, a reborn Henry had a new aim – to distribute apples from his farm to anyone who needed them, travelers, townsfolk, even agricultural competitors. Only these apples didn't glow; they were regular apples cultivated with the experience Henry had gained through his odyssey for the golden apple.

The once-small town of Keene overflowed with happiness and good health, thanks to Henry’s new perspective. The story of the golden apple soon spread to neighboring towns and cities, inspiring others to focus on their inherent wealth – humanity, kindness, love. And perhaps, that was the true magic of the golden apple, and Henry, its caretaker, the silent magician.