#1 A Glimmer in the Straw
Barnaby was a humble farmer who lived in a small, drafty cottage. One morning, while checking the coop, he discovered a heavy, shimmering egg made of solid gold beneath his favorite goose. He sold it for a fortune, and to his delight, the goose laid another golden egg the next day. Soon, Barnaby’s life changed from one of struggle to one of absolute luxury.
#2 The Hunger for More
As the months passed, Barnaby’s wealth grew, but so did his impatience. He no longer felt gratitude for the daily gift; instead, he felt cheated by the wait. 'If this bird produces gold,' he reasoned, 'it must be filled with a mountain of it.' He began to view the goose not as a friend, but as a locked treasure chest that was keeping his true fortune away from him.
#3 The Empty Fortune
Driven by insatiable greed, Barnaby took a sharp knife to the coop one evening. He killed the goose and cut it open, certain he would find a hoard of gold. To his horror, the bird was just like any other goose inside—nothing but feathers and flesh. By trying to seize everything at once, Barnaby had destroyed the source of his prosperity, leaving him with nothing but a bloodied knife and the memory of his own folly.
