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by Unknown
Once, when there was a famine, a rich baker sent for twenty of the
poorest children in the town and said to them, "In this basket there is a loaf
for each of you. Take it, and come back to me every day till God sends us better
times."
The hungry children gathered eagerly about the basket, and quarreled for the
bread, because each wished to have the largest loaf. At last they went away
without even thanking the good man.
But Gretchen, a poorly dressed little girl, did not quarrel or struggle with the
rest, but remained standing modestly a pace away. When the ill-behaved children
had left, she took the smallest loaf, which alone was left in the basket, kissed
the man's hand, and went home.
The next day the children were as ill-behaved as before, and poor, timid
Gretchen received a loaf scarcely half the size of the one she got the first
day. When she came home, and her mother cut the loaf open, many new, shining
pieces of silver fell out of it.
The mother was very much alarmed, and said, "Take the money back to the good man
at once, for it must have got in the dough by accident. Go quickly, Gretchen, go
quickly!"
But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, "No,
no, my child, it was no mistake. I had the silver pieces put into the smallest
loaf to reward you. Always be contented, peaceable; and grateful as you arc now.
Go home, now, and tell your mother that the money is your own.
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