The Boy and The Baker

In a town lived a baker who fed his townsmen with all his heart, never asking for anything in return.

The townsmen were nourished and the baker became rich because of it.

One day a boy arrived in the town and saw the baker’s wealth.

Desiring the same riches, he set up his own shop accross from the baker, but when the boy fed the townsmen they were not nourished and quickly returned to the baker.

Seeing this, the boy became envious and stole the baker’s bread in the night!

“This time I have exactly what I need!” the boy said, and, using the baker’s bread, the boy fed the townsmen, but they were not nourished and quickly returned to the baker.

The boy grew even madder.

The baker was saddened over his misfortune because he could no longer feed his townsmen.

He sat next to his empty oven thinking about what to do next when he began to sweat from the oven’s heat.

This gave him an idea!

He began inviting the townsmen into his shop to warm them from the cold. They became warm and the baker became rich because of it.

The boy saw this and frantically attempted to do the same thing.

He gave them bread and warmth but yet again the townsmen could not be nourished nor warmed, so they returned to the baker.

In anger, the boy stole the baker’s oven in the night! “His oven must do the trick!”

He tried to feed the townsmen with the baker’s bread and warm them with the baker’s oven but still they remained unnourished and cold.

Again, the baker was saddened. “How could I possibly be of use to my townsmen now?” He looked around his empty shop, when suddenly he had an idea…

With all his heart, the baker began to give his empty shop as a resting place for any who needed it, and he filled it every night. The townsmen were well rested and he became rich because of it.

The boy’s anger became hate and again he tried to give rest to the townsmen just as the baker did, warming them with the baker’s oven and feed them with the baker’s bread, but the townsmen who stayed with the boy were still not nourished, warmed, or well rested, and they all quickly returned to the baker.

The boy’s hate became rage and he burned down the baker’s shop in the night!

In the morning the baker was filled with sorrow for he could no longer give to his townsmen, so he sadly began walking over to the boy’s shop, causing the boy to celebrate in success.

“Good morning, have you come for something to eat? Some warmth? A place to stay? Paying customers only, unfortunately,” the boy told the baker with pride.

“I’m afraid all I’ve got is time now,” said the baker.

He paused for a moment as the boy’s pride continued to grow, but then the baker spoke again,

"But I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working and would gladly give some of my time so you can get something to eat, warm yourself, and rest.

The boy was startled and suddenly remorse overcame him. He was moved to tears as he welcomed the baker in.

With all of his heart he gave the baker bread, sat him by the oven, and gave him a place to rest. The baker was well nourished, warmed, and rested, and the boy’s heart became rich because of it.