Treasure

Once upon a time, a wealthy man lived, notorious for his secrecy about his wealth. It was a mystery to everyone, including his family, on the extent of his riches. He employed a loyal servant named Maruda, whose duty was to drive his horse carriage.

The Master’s Untimely Demise

Tragedy struck when the rich man died suddenly from a stroke while he was out inspecting his fields. His sudden departure riddled his family with confusion and despair, particularly because they didn’t know where his wealth had been hidden.

Relatives and the Hidden Wealth

News of the rich man’s death reached his numerous relatives, who flocked to his house, hoping for a share of the well-kept wealth. However, when they realized a negligible amount of money had been left behind, they quickly disappeared, leaving only the faithful Maruda to remain.

The Disturbance of a Ghost

One day, the rich man’s wife saw to her horror her late husband’s ghost, causing a ruckus throughout the house. It appeared to be hunting for something and would disappear in the early morning, only to return day after day. Bravery was no stranger to Maruda, who was unfazed by the concept of ghosts. He had heard tales that the spirits of the dead loiter around their former residences, especially if their wealth was left behind, to protect it from falling into the wrong hands. Understanding this, Maruda kept vigil at the house.

Maruda’s Encounter with the Ghost

One night, Maruda stayed awake, waiting for the ghost. At midnight, he saw a shadowy figure darting about the house, moving furniture. Maruda approached the figure and found, it was indeed his late master. They conversed, and to Maruda’s surprise, the ghost revealed the secret hiding places of his wealth within the house. The wealth was distributed in three big jars, buried in three corners of the house.

The Hidden Wealth Uncovered

Emulating surprise, Maruda expressed to his late master his regrets about hiding the wealth from the family and pointed out the family’s suffering due to lack of money. Upon hearing this, the ghost admitted that he would rest easy if his family knew where his wealth was hidden. As dawn approached, the ghost vanished, allowing Maruda to reveal the secret of the hidden treasure. He found the jars and gave all the money to the widow and her children. After this discovery, the ghost discontinued his nightly visits.

Maruda’s Reward

The mistress of the house, in her joy, thanked Maruda for his steadfast loyalty and proposed that he marry their youngest daughter and live with them. With the rich man’s ghost seemingly in approval, Maruda agreed to marry and lived in great happiness ever after.