The Gullible Carpenter

A skilled carpenter often noticed that his best tools and special sweet cakes disappeared whenever he worked in another village. His spouse always offered a different explanation.

Neighbors whispered that a greedy man nearby was taking advantage of the household. The carpenter disliked gossip, but he also knew that trust should welcome honest questions.

One morning he announced a journey, then quietly returned and hid behind stacked planks in his workshop. That evening the neighbor arrived. The carpenter’s spouse handed him cakes and several valuable tools.

A loose board creaked. Realizing the carpenter might be nearby, the spouse quickly claimed that the gifts were part of a blessing meant to protect the carpenter’s long life. The neighbor eagerly agreed.

The carpenter wanted to believe the flattering story, but he looked at the evidence: hidden tools, repeated losses, and two frightened faces. He stepped out and said, “A blessing does not require secrecy or falsehood.”

The tools were returned. The spouse apologized, and the household made clear rules about shared property. The carpenter forgave without pretending the lie was true. Kindness and clear sight, he learned, must work together.