The Miller Who Asked for a Gift
intermediatefamily222 words
An old miller promises his mill to whichever of his three sons brings him the most valuable thing by the next full moon.
Long ago, in a valley where three rivers met, there lived a miller who had three sons and one old mill.
When the miller grew too weak to work, he called his sons to the room where he kept his money. 'The son who brings me the most valuable thing by the next full moon,' he said, 'will have the mill.'
The eldest son, who loved gold, travelled to the city and came back with a ring that shone like the sun. The second son, who loved books, came back with a heavy volume that contained the name of every star.
The youngest son, whom everyone thought lazy, never left the valley. He spent the month repairing the old wheel, which had creaked for years, and mending the roof where the rain came in.
On the night of the full moon, the elder brothers laid their treasures on the table. The youngest brought nothing.
'Where is your gift?' asked the miller.
'Listen,' said the boy.
Outside, for the first time in ten years, the wheel was turning without a sound, and the mill was grinding flour again.
The miller gave the ring and the book back to his elder sons. He gave the mill to the youngest.
Moral: The most valuable gift is often the one that is already in your hands.