Stupid and the Pot of Gold

Many years ago, in a distant land, there lived a poor peasant woman. This woman had a son, who was so foolish that everyone in the village called him ‘Stupid’, until at last his real name was almost forgotten.

A Mother’s Instructions

One day, his mother had to travel to a village far off. As she set out, she said to Stupid, “Now, you must look after things while I’m gone. You should, in particular, look after the hen that is sitting in the shed. If she leaves the nest, catch her quickly and put her back on the eggs. If you do not, the eggs will get cold and there will be no chicks.”

A Series of Mishaps

No sooner had the old woman left on her journey than the hen jumped down from the nest and ran out into the yard. Stupid tried to catch her, but he was so clumsy and made so much noise, that the more he tried, the more the hen ran about. He attempted throwing his hat at her but missed each time. In desperation, he even threw a stout stick at her, which unfortunately struck her on the side of her head, killing her.

Distraught and frightened of his mother’s anger, Stupid decided to sit on the eggs himself to keep them warm. However, he accidentally crushed them. Feeling desolate and fearing his mother’s imminent return, he hid himself in an old oven in the house.

Stupid’s Last Chance

Stupid’s mother, upon hearing this entire ordeal, was upset but agreed to offer him one final chance. She gave him a piece of cloth she had woven, instructing him to sell it in the market and cautioned him to avoid doing business with people who have a lot to say.

An Unlikely Encounter

Stupid ended up mistaking a plaster statue in the deserted courtyard of a house for a real person. Seeing that the statue did not reply to any of his questions, he took it as a man of few words. Excited about his potential customer and anticipating his mother’s approval, he left the cloth in its care, promising to return for the money the next day.

A Surprising Discovery

However, a tramp took the cloth overnight. The next day, when Stupid returned and found the clothes missing, he became furious. He raised his cudgel and hit the statue, revealing a pot of gold coins concealed within. Overjoyed, he rushed home to tell his mother about his luck.

A Clever Tactic

Fearing the villagers’ response, his mother devised a clever strategy to make Stupid’s tale unbelievable. After showering him with dried fruits, she convinced him it had rained dried fruits. Stupid, indeed, proclaimed this in the court when questioned about the source of the gold. With his credibility in doubt by his claim, he was dismissed as being mad.

In the end, no one ever discovered how Stupid acquired the money. So, he and his mother kept the pot of gold and lived in comfort for the rest of their lives. His mother admitted, “You may be Stupid by name and stupid by nature, but this time, you have certainly done us some good for once.”