The Magic Gifts
Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a very poor boy named Ron with his mother. They had run out of money, so he decided to go to the neighboring village to look for work. His mother gave him three pieces of bread to eat for lunch.
— Take these and take care of yourself, my boy. — Don't worry, Mother. I'll soon find work, and all our troubles will disappear.
The Meeting with the Angels
Ron walked for hours through the forest. It was evening, and he was tired and hungry. So he decided to rest in the forest. He found a giant oak tree and climbed into it to protect himself from animals.
But suddenly, three swans appeared before him, coming from the nearby lake. When they reached the ground, they transformed into angels. Ron watched them, fascinated. One angel saw him and pointed.
— Look, a human! — But we must not be seen by humans. — He's probably a good person, for only good people can bear the light we emanate. — What are you doing in the forest at this late hour, human? — I left home to look for work in the neighboring village or in the city. — If you had to leave home to look for work, it means you are very needy. Take this!
The First Magic Gift
— On the spot where you place this branch, a house will rise. The house will have everything necessary: beds to sleep in, clothes to wear, food, money, and all good things. — Thank you! Thank you very much! — Now you must leave, for angels are not allowed to speak with humans for a long time. — Of course! With what I've received from you, I can go anywhere. Thank you!
Ron's Generosity
So Ron continued his journey through the forest. Suddenly, as night fell, thunder and lightning began, followed by rain. Ron was about to place the branch on the ground when he heard a noise. Someone was trembling.
Ron went in the direction of the sound and saw a family shivering in the rain.
— What happened? Why are you standing here in the rain? — Our house was destroyed by lightning last night. Now we have nowhere to live. — We are poor and have no money to build a house. My children will die of hunger. — Mmm... They need it more. Here, take this! It will solve all your problems. — Thank you! How can I ever repay you for your kindness? — Just let me stay here tonight, and in the morning, I'll be on my way. — You can stay here as long as your heart desires.
The Second Magic Gift
In the morning, Ron left the house to look for work. He walked all day through the forest, and at night he decided to rest. This time, he found a small cave on a hill and decided to stay there overnight.
As he was about to fall asleep, he saw a strange light in the sky. The swans descended and transformed into angels again. One of them saw him again.
— The same human, again! Are you following us? — And tell me, what are you doing here? Didn't I give you a house last night? What are you doing here in the forest? — Oh, I couldn't keep the magic house.
And Ron told the angels what had happened last night.
— So, so I'm going to another village to look for work. — Well, what you did last night was generous, but a little thoughtless. We cannot give you something as important as the magic house, but we can give you this. Extraordinary! A plate from which food never runs out. It will make as much food as you want, for as many people as you want. Take it and keep it with you, don't give it to anyone, and now leave here! — Thank you very much! I will leave here immediately.
A New Encounter and a New Act of Kindness
Ron continued walking through the forest and reached a hamlet. Suddenly, he saw an old man walking with a bundle of hay on his head. The man was so old and weak that he almost collapsed from the weight of the bundle. Ron helped him.
— Uncle, you shouldn't carry such a heavy thing at your age. Let me help you.
The man took Ron to his house in the hamlet, where Ron also carried the bundle.
— Thank you very much, son! You've helped us a lot. — Uncle, why do you work so hard? Don't you have anyone to help you? — My wife and I live alone. If I don't work, where will the money come from to put bread on the table? — He's old and weak. He can only still scythe, but even doing that is very, very difficult for him. — It seems you haven't eaten well for days. No wonder you're so weak. Uncle, take this! It will produce as much food as you want, any food you want. You can eat to your heart's content and regain your strength. — But that's yours! We can't take it! — You need it more than I do. I am young and strong. I will quickly find work. Please, you take it. Just let me stay here tonight and let's eat together.
So Ron asked the plate to give them hot soup, vegetable stew, and fruit pie. And all three ate happily.
The Third Magic Gift
The next morning, the old woman packed him a small meal, and Ron went into the forest again. He walked all day, and at night he found a hollow in a large tree and lay down there. As soon as he lay down, he saw the same light in the sky. The swans descended and transformed into angels.
— You, again! Now what are you doing here? Didn't I give you a plate last night that produces food continuously? — Don't tell me you gave it to someone else. — But I did. The two old people needed it more.
And Ron told them about the old people he had met the night before.
— Oh! Now what can we give you? — Oh, you don't have to give me anything. — Yes, you do! We must give something to every human who cannot bear the light. Remember, this will be our last gift. Take these shoes. They will take you anywhere you need in an instant. — Oh, they will be very useful to me! — Oh, take them from here, please! Leave and don't give them to anyone! — Thank you!
A New Journey and a New Act of Generosity
So Ron put on the shoes and wished to reach the neighboring village. In a second, he disappeared from the forest and appeared in the neighboring village near an inn. Ron decided to spend the night there.
While he was eating at the inn, another traveler joined him.
— May I join you, friend? — Of course, come. — I am John. What is your name and where do you come from? — I am Ron, and I came here to look for work. Who are you? — Ah, I've worked hard for the past few years, far from home, and now I can't wait to go back. In fact, I'm leaving after I eat. — You're traveling at night? — You don't know what it's like to miss home. My son surely misses me very much. If it hadn't rained, thundered, and lightninged, I should have been home two days ago. — It seems it will rain tonight too. — I don't care! I'm going home! — Come with me. Put on these shoes. — Why? — These shoes will take you home in an instant. I'm not in a hurry anywhere. You need them more.
So John put on the shoes and immediately disappeared.
The Reward
In the morning, Ron went through the village to look for work, but found nothing. In the evening, he returned to the inn. He went to his room and was about to fall asleep when he saw the same strange light, the swans and the angels again.
— Surely you're following us! — No, I can't. — It seems the shoes brought you here instantly. But I ask you, why are you still here at the inn? You can go home and come here daily for work. Tell me you still have the shoes, don't you? — No.
Ron told them about the traveler.
— But we have nothing left to give you. — It's nothing. — If you wish, we can bring your gifts back. We'll take them from those you gave them to. Think, if you had the house, you would never have to work again. You could live happily with your mother. Or, if you take the plate, you and your mother would have the best food in the world and would never have to work again. And with the shoes, you could travel between home and work very quickly. Which gift do you want us to bring back to you? — None. Those to whom I gave the gifts needed them more. I am very content with how I am. Young, strong, and able to work. — Oh, as you wish.
The Happy Ending
The angels disappeared, and Ron went to sleep. The next day, when Ron woke up:
— Wake up! — Mother, what are you doing here? Oh, oh! — Look what happened, son! — What is this? — Our house suddenly changed into a mansion. — How?
Suddenly, a swan flew through the window and left a note in Ron's lap. Ron opened it and read:
— Ron, we were just testing you. Yes, the people you gave the gifts to needed them more. They needed them, but because of your kindness and generosity, you deserved them. Signed, your friends, the angels.
So Ron and his mother lived happily and comfortably until old age.
But they never forgot to be kind and to share their wealth with everyone around them.
