Long ago, in a small village deep within the African forest, there lived an orphan boy. His parents had passed away when he was very young, leaving him with no family, no wealth, and no inheritance. Each day he wandered through the village hungry and tired, working odd jobs just to survive. Yet despite his poverty, his heart was pure, and he remained kind to all who crossed his path.
One afternoon, while gathering firewood in the thick bush, the boy’s eyes caught sight of something unusual beneath a fallen tree. It shimmered and gleamed as though touched by sunlight, even though the forest was dim. Curious, he dug through the leaves and uncovered a stone unlike any he had ever seen. It was smooth, round, and glowing faintly with a mysterious light.
Believing it to be a simple treasure, he placed the stone in his bag and carried it home. But that night, something remarkable happened. When the boy set the stone upon the floor of his small hut, it began to shine brighter. To his amazement, steaming plates of food appeared before him yam, stew, fish, and palm wine. For the first time in his life, the orphan ate until his belly was full.
The Boy’s Fortune Grows
Night after night, the stone gave him food. Soon the boy discovered that it would also bring him other things he needed cloth to wear, firewood for cooking, and coins to spend at the marketplace. In a short time, the poor orphan became one of the wealthiest in the village. His hut was filled with laughter, for people came to visit him, hoping to share in his fortune.
But with wealth came attention, and not all of it was good. While some marveled at the boy’s sudden blessings, others grew jealous. Among them was a greedy man from the same village. This man watched closely, waiting to learn the secret of the boy’s prosperity.
The Theft of the Stone
One night, while the boy was asleep, the greedy man crept into his hut. There, in the corner, lay the shining stone. The man snatched it quickly and fled into the darkness.
When the boy awoke the next morning, his hut was bare. No food appeared, no cloth was given, no coins were to be found. He searched everywhere but the stone was gone. Hunger returned to him, and with it, poverty.
The greedy man, meanwhile, grew rich. Yet unlike the orphan boy, he shared nothing with others. His wealth brought him fear instead of peace, for he constantly worried that someone would steal the stone from him as he had stolen it.
The Lesson of the Stone
The orphan boy never regained the magic stone. But through his suffering, he learned a lesson that has been told across generations: do not show your riches to everyone, for envy and greed walk hand in hand.
Though he was poor once more, the boy carried wisdom richer than gold. He understood that blessings must be protected, and that trust should be given carefully.
The Moral of the Story
This tale teaches that not all who smile at your fortune wish you well. By displaying his magical gift openly, the orphan boy invited jealousy and betrayal. The moral is clear: do not show your riches to everyone, for they may be stolen. True wealth is not only in possessions but in wisdom, humility, and caution.
Knowledge Check
1. What did the orphan boy find in the bush?
He found a shining magic stone that could produce food and wealth.
2. How did the boy’s life change after finding the stone?
He became wealthy, well-fed, and admired by many villagers.
3. Who stole the stone and why?
A greedy man stole it out of jealousy and desire for wealth.
4. What happened to the boy after the stone was stolen?
He returned to poverty and hunger, losing all that the stone had given him.
5. What does the story teach about wealth?
That displaying riches without caution can attract envy and theft.
6. Why is the moral of this story still important today?
Because in every generation, wisdom, discretion, and humility are more lasting than possessions.
