Once upon a time, there was a man who had three sons. The oldest son was clever and strong. The middle son was also clever and strong. But the youngest son was simple and quiet. His brothers called him Simpleton and laughed at him.
"Simpleton can't do anything right," they said. "He is useless."
One day, the oldest son went into the forest to cut wood. His mother gave him a fine cake and a bottle of wine for his lunch. In the forest, he met a little old man with a grey beard.
"Good morning, young man," said the old man. "I am very hungry. Could you share your cake and wine with me?"
"Share with you? No way!" said the oldest son. "This is MY cake and MY wine. Go away, old man!"
He sat down to eat his lunch. But as he was cutting the cake, the knife slipped and cut his hand. He had to go home. No wood was cut that day.
The next day, the middle son went to the forest. He also took a cake and wine. He also met the old man. And he also refused to share.
"There is not enough for two," he said coldly.
As he began to chop a tree, the axe slipped and hurt his leg. He also had to go home.
On the third day, Simpleton went to the forest. His mother did not give him a fine cake — she gave him a hard, dry biscuit and a bottle of sour beer. "That is good enough for you," she said.
In the forest, Simpleton met the same old man.
"Could you share your food with me?" asked the old man. "I am very hungry."
Simpleton looked at his dry biscuit and his sour beer. It was not much. But he smiled.
"Of course!" he said. "It is not very good food, but you are welcome to share it."
He sat down with the old man. But when he opened his bag, the dry biscuit had turned into a beautiful cake, and the sour beer had turned into sweet wine. They ate and drank together happily.
When lunch was finished, the old man smiled. "You have been kind to me, so I will give you a gift. Cut down that old tree over there, and you will find something special inside."
Simpleton cut down the tree. Inside the trunk sat a goose — a goose with feathers of pure gold.
