In a tiny village there lived an old man and an old woman. And because the village was so very small, nobody else lived there besides them. The old man went fishing every day—the sea was nearby—while the old woman grew vegetables in the garden and prepared all sorts of delicious dishes for the old man.
The old man and woman also kept chickens, which laid eggs for them every day. The old woman loved her hens dearly. She asked the old man to build them a lovely coop, and in the cold months she laid down straw so they wouldn't be chilly.
The old woman and old man lived in perfect harmony. They loved each other very much and always looked after one another. They did everything together—weeding the garden beds, cleaning the coop, and tidying the house. The old man called his wife Kindness, because she truly was very kind, caring, and generous. When a family in the neighbouring village had no money at all, the old woman would walk to their home and bring treats for the children—and it was a long walk to the neighbouring village, more than three hours at a steady pace.
One fine evening, when it was time to go to the shed for eggs, the old man heard the old woman cry out:
Old man, old man, come here quickly! There's something in the shed!!!
The old man was frightened. What could it be? Perhaps a fox had snuck into the shed and eaten all the hens!
Jumping up from his chair, the old man rushed to the shed. When he entered, he couldn't believe his eyes. In a cozy corner, on golden straw, lay an egg—but not an ordinary one. This egg was made of gold.
Can this be real? Can chickens lay eggs of pure gold? Well, I'll be! Where did you get this egg?
The old man exclaimed with a questioning look.
Where do you think? The hen laid it! I just came in and there it was! Old man, does this mean we're the richest people in the whole world?
The old woman cried out, still not believing her eyes.
Well, I don't know, but this egg is enough for us to live well and never have to work in the garden again. Actually, I think we should hide it away somewhere safe, just in case. You never know what might happen.
The old man said happily.
And so they did. They built a small wooden box, the old man attached a sturdy lock, and they placed the golden egg inside. Then they went to bed.
Morning came, and the old man rose early as usual to go fishing. Taking his rod and bait, he stepped outside and saw the old woman hammering huge logs into the ground.
What on earth are you doing, old woman? Why are you burying those logs in the ground? The sun's barely up and you're already out here doing something strange.
I'm building a fence so nobody can come in and ask us for anything. There's no need to give things away to just anyone. From now on, I won't give anything to anybody or share anything with anyone. And you, old man, don't touch anything in the fridge either. I'm not feeding you anymore.
The old woman muttered under her breath.
Have you completely lost your mind? What are you doing? We've lived side by side for so many years! I'm going fishing now. I'll catch some fish, we'll cook it tonight and celebrate our golden egg.
No, old man. You go fishing, then bring me the fish. I'll eat it myself.
The old man couldn't believe his ears. When he came home that evening with his catch, it all came true. The old woman took the fish and left the old man hungry. After they got that egg, the old woman had gone mad—she became greedy and mean. Days passed like this, with the old man eating nothing while the old woman kept everything for herself.
So the old man gathered all his belongings, tied them in a bundle, and set off wherever his feet would take him. He wandered through the forest, finding berries to eat, sometimes fishing and cooking his catch over a campfire. The old man slept in a hut he built himself from branches and leaves.
A week passed. The old woman had accumulated so much stuff that it wouldn't all fit in the house. She did everything in the garden herself, cleaned the house herself, and even had to go fishing for tasty fish herself.
Then she thought:
Alone, I just can't manage all this. And the evenings are boring and sad. I can't go into the forest by myself anymore—it's scary. What do I need this egg for? What am I supposed to do with it? Meanwhile, my old man is wandering alone through the forest, not eating anything, freezing. He always treated me well and helped me, took care of me.
The old woman grabbed her jacket and set off to find the old man. She wandered through the forest and suddenly saw a light in the distance—someone had lit a fire. She approached and saw the old man sitting there, looking sad.
Old man, my dear! I've finally found you! Come home. I've cooked so many delicious things. I'll warm you up and feed you. We'll live like before, helping each other and caring for one another.
But what about the golden egg? After it appeared, you became so greedy and mean.
The old man asked.
No, dear, I understand now. I don't need any wealth, any golden egg. I miss you so much. I'm so sad in the evenings. I want to talk with you and laugh. And I have nobody to cook delicious meals for. Come home, my dear!
The old woman pleaded.
After a few days, everything was back to normal. Laughter filled the house again. The old man and woman worked together in the garden, and the old woman even started going fishing with the old man.
Fairy tales are written so that people understand that sometimes happiness isn't found in wealth. What matters most is having loved ones nearby—everything else is nonsense.
