The stone soup
Once there was a man who was visiting a friend in another town.
He had walked a long way and it was getting dark.
Soon he came to a house.
He was hungry, so he stopped at the kitchen door.
“Good lady, could you spare me some food? ” he asked.
“I have none, ”said the lady.
“Please, may I borrow your pot and cook some soup on your stove?” he asked.
“Yes, you may,” she said.
“If you share the soup with me.”
The man agreed.
He took the pot.
He filled it with water and put it on the fire.
Then he went out to the garden and picked up two pieces of stone.
He washed them and put them into the pot.
The lady was very surprised.
“What sort of soup are you making?” she asked.
“Stone soup,’ he said,
a delicious soup, but it will taste better with some carrots and beans.”
“I have some in my garden,”
The lady said.
She ran out into the garden and came back with some carrots and beans.
The man washed the carrots and beans.
He cut them up and put them into the pot.
He stirred the soup and tasted it.
“Is the soup ready?” asked the lady.
“Hmm…this is nice, but it will taste better with some meat.”
“I have some,” said the lady.
She went to the cupboard and came back with a piece of meat.
The man cut the meat up and put it in the pot.
“Is the soup ready?” asked the lady.
“Almost done,” said the man.
“With just a little salt and pepper, it will be perfect.”
I have salt and pepper,” said the lady.
“Well then, the soup is ready and we may eat,” said the man happily.
