The Magical Cow

The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the hills, casting long shadows over the village. George stood by his small wooden hut, his calloused hands resting on the neck of his beloved cow, Bella. 

She was more than just a cow to him—she was his only source of income. Every morning, he sold her milk in the village market, earning just enough to buy food. But no matter how hard George worked, he remained poor, while his neighbors, Roger and Samuel, lived in luxury. 

The two greedy farmers owned vast lands and countless cattle, yet their hunger for wealth was insatiable. They despised George, not because he was a threat, but because they could not stand the idea of a poor man surviving so close to their riches.

One evening, as Roger and Samuel sat drinking by the barn, they watched George lead Bella home. “Imagine if we had that cow,” Roger muttered. “We’d have even more milk to sell.” Samuel smirked. “That fool doesn’t deserve her. 

We could drive him out of this land and take what’s his. He wouldn’t dare fight us.” Their sinister plan took shape in the flickering light of the lanterns. That night, while the village slept, the two men crept to George’s field with torches in hand. They set his crops ablaze, knowing that without food or money, George would be forced to sell Bella. Their greed made them blind to what fate had in store.

The next morning, George awoke to the smell of smoke. His heart pounded as he rushed outside. His small field—his only means of survival—was reduced to blackened ashes. His stomach clenched, not just with sorrow but with fear. 

How would he live now? He looked at Bella, her large brown eyes filled with trust. He had no choice. With a heavy heart, he took her to the village market, hoping someone would buy her for a fair price.

As he led Bella through the crowded streets, villagers turned to whisper. Many pitied him, but no one offered to buy. Roger and Samuel stood nearby, watching like vultures, waiting for George’s desperation to grow. Just as he was about to give in to their measly offer, an old man in a faded blue cloak stepped forward. 

“I’ll buy your cow,” the man said, his voice kind yet firm. “But I can only offer this.” He pulled out a small leather pouch and dropped it into George’s hands. George opened it and gasped—it was filled with silver coins! More than he had ever seen.

Without hesitation, he handed Bella’s rope to the old man. Roger and Samuel watched in shock. They had expected to get the cow for almost nothing, but now George had wealth. The old man led Bella away, but as he passed by the two farmers, he whispered something that sent a chill down their spines: “Greed always consumes those who feed it.”

Roger and Samuel were furious. They had gained nothing, while George, whom they tried to ruin, had become richer than they ever imagined. But their anger turned to horror when they heard the villagers talking the next day. 

The old man was a legendary traveler who was known to reward those who lived with honesty. And Bella? She had been taken to a land where she would be cared for and loved, never to be milked for profit again.

George used his newfound wealth wisely, buying seeds to replant his field and a small home to keep him safe. He never forgot Bella, nor the lesson that came with her. Meanwhile, Roger and Samuel continued to chase after wealth, but no matter how much they had, it was never enough. The greed that had once driven them to deceive another man had now become their own undoing.

And so, the village learned an important truth—kindness and honesty always bring fortune in ways greed never can.