The Beggar

Once upon a time in a little cottage lived a small family. One day the mother and the father had to travel to the city to see a sick aunt. The mother warned her daughter not to open the door to anyone. The daughter was confused so she asked,

“But mother how will you and father entered after you return?”

The mother smiled and pulled a silver key from her dress pocket, “When we return your father and I will open the door with this key, do you understand?”

The daughter told her mother she did. The parents left. The girl occupied herself with cleaning the cottage, and baking bread for her supper. Just as she had finished her supper a knock came at the door.

“Who could that be?” she asked herself, “Who’s there?”

“I’m but a poor beggar may I have some bread?”

The girl reached for a chunk of her bread but stopped herself, “I am sorry but I was told by my mother not to open the door to anyone”

The beggar did not reply. The daughter thought he must have left, so went to bed. The next night the beggar’s call came again. And the girl’s reply was the same. This continued for seven days. On the seventh day the call came again.

“May I have some bread?”

The daughter feeling quite bad for the beggar, picked up her bread walked over to the door and opened it. She was surprised to see a neighbour.

“Where is the Beggar?” she asked.

“There is no beggar, your mother asked me to make sure you had listened to her. Because you didn’t you will receive no dowry when you are married.”

After that day the daughter never opened a door for a beggar again.