one day a poor countryman going to the nest of his goose found there a golden egg all yellow and glittering. when he took it up it felt as heavy as lead and he was minded to throw it away, because he thought a trick had been played on him.

on second thoughts, he took it home, however, and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon became prosperous by selling his eggs.

as he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find—nothing!