The Old Man and the Thief

The old man lived alone on the hillside. All he needed was his peace and solitude, plus a few pots and pans to cook his meals, and the hens and fruit trees beside his hut to provide him with food. He also owned a pair of sandals and would wear these when walking down to market in the town; there he would barter some eggs or plums for some fish or bread.

One evening, the old man returned home. He hurried because the full moon was due to rise over the distant mountains very soon and he did not want to miss that. On arriving at his hut, he was surprised to see a thief sneaking out with his best cooking pot. Caught in the act, the thief raised the pot above his head, as if to strike the old man.

"Don't hurt me," the old man pleaded. "And if you need the pot more than I do, then by all means take it."

The thief frowned, then glanced at the old man's sandals. "And since you have no sandals of your own," the old man said, "then take mine." And he removed his leather sandals and handed them over.

The thief ran off, puzzled yet delighted at his good fortune. The old man put his fish and bread indoors, then hurried out to face the east, as the moon rose and flooded his soul with silver.

"What a pity," he thought, "that I could not have given that thief the beauty of this moonlight..."


From the book "A Little Book of Joy" by Stephen Bowkett