Once upon a time, there was a poor pack-horse leader who lived in the country. It was New Year’s Eve but there was no work. So, he decided to return home without a load on his horse. Suddenly, his eyes fell on a beggar who lay in the shade of the pine trees that grew along the highway. The pack-horse leader loaded the beggar onto his horse and took him home. He and his wife spread a straw-mat on the dirt floor and carefully laid the beggar onto it. Then, they covered him with straw matting. They had no food to give the beggar. Hence, they built a good fire by him. The next day was New Year’s Day. It was almost noontime but the beggar did not get up. The man and his wife called him. The beggar did not reply. When they pulled off the straw matting, they were shocked. Instead of the beggar, there was a lump of gold. The pack-horse leader became a rich man.
The New Year’s Eve
