The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs
A farmer and his wife enjoy wealth from their goose’s golden eggs. What happens when greed makes them want all the gold at once?
Once upon a time, a farmer and his wife lived a simple life. They weren’t rich, but they had enough to get by. Every day, they worked hard on their small farm, taking care of their animals and crops.
One morning, the farmer walked through the barnyard. He saw a goose that looked different from the rest. Its feathers shimmered in the sunlight, almost as if they had a golden glow.
“That goose looks special,” the farmer thought. He decided to bring it home and take good care of it.
The next morning, when the farmer went to check on the goose, he gasped in surprise. Lying next to it was something shiny.
“A golden egg!” he shouted. He ran to find his wife. “Look, look! The goose laid a golden egg!”
His wife’s eyes widened. “This must be worth a fortune!” she said excitedly. They sold the egg and made more money than they had ever seen.
The next day, the goose laid another golden egg. Then another, the day after that.
Day after day, the goose laid a single golden egg. Before long, the farmer and his wife were very rich. But as their wealth grew, so did their greed.
“Why are we waiting for just one egg a day?” the farmer grumbled. “If the goose lays golden eggs, then it must be full of gold inside!”
His wife nodded. “If we take all the gold at once, we’ll never have to wait again!”
The farmer agreed. “You’re right. Let’s cut the goose open and take it all!”
So, with dreams of endless riches, the farmer picked up a knife and cut the goose open. But when he looked inside, he froze.
There was no gold. Just an ordinary goose, like any other.
“Oh no. What have we done?” his wife whispered.
They had been so greedy that they destroyed the very thing that had made them rich. Now, there were no more golden eggs, and no way to get them back.
Featured in the Book Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, a farmer and his wife lived a simple life.
They weren’t rich, but they had enough to get by.
Every day, they worked hard on their small farm, taking care of their animals and crops.
One morning, the farmer walked through the barnyard.
He saw a goose that looked different from the rest.
Its feathers shimmered in the sunlight, almost as if they had a golden glow.
“That goose looks special,” the farmer thought.
He decided to bring it home and take good care of it.
The next morning, when the farmer went to check on the goose, he gasped in surprise.
Lying next to it was something shiny.
“A golden egg!” he shouted.
He ran to find his wife. “Look, look!
The goose laid a golden egg!”
His wife’s eyes widened.
“This must be worth a fortune!” she said excitedly.
They sold the egg and made more money than they had ever seen.
The next day, the goose laid another golden egg.
Then another, the day after that.
Day after day, the goose laid a single golden egg.
Before long, the farmer and his wife were very rich.
But as their wealth grew, so did their greed.
“Why are we waiting for just one egg a day?” the farmer grumbled.
“If the goose lays golden eggs, then it must be full of gold inside!”
His wife nodded.
“If we take all the gold at once, we’ll never have to wait again!”
The farmer agreed. “You’re right.
Let’s cut the goose open and take it all!”
So, with dreams of endless riches, the farmer picked up a knife and cut the goose open.
But when he looked inside, he froze.
There was no gold.
Just an ordinary goose, like any other.
“Oh no.
What have we done?” his wife whispered.
They had been so greedy that they destroyed the very thing that had made them rich.
Now, there were no more golden eggs, and no way to get them back.
كان يا ما كان في قديم الزمان، فلاح وزوجته يعيشان في قرية صغيرة. لم يكونا غنيّين، وكانا يعيشان حياة بسيطة. في يوم من الأيام، وجد الفلاح إوزة تبدو مختلفة عن أي إوزة أخرى. قرر أن يأخذها إلى المنزل ويعتني بها جيدًا.
في اليوم التالي، حدث شيء مذهل. وجد الفلاح بيضة ذهبية بجوار الإوزة. تفاجأ هو وزوجته كثيرًا. باعا البيضة وحصلا على الكثير من المال. ومنذ ذلك اليوم، بدأت الإوزة تضع لهم بيضة ذهبية كل يوم، وسرعان ما أصبحا غنيين.
ولكن، أرادا المزيد من المال. فكرا أنه إذا كانت الإوزة تستطيع أن تضع بيضًا ذهبيًا، فلا بد أن بداخلها الكثير من الذهب. قررا أن يحصلا على كل الذهب دفعة واحدة عن طريق ذبح الإوزة.
لذلك، أخذ الفلاح الإوزة وذبحها. لكن لم يكن هناك ذهب داخلها. بقتلهما للإوزة، فقدوا الشيء الذي جعلهم أغنياء. لم تعد هناك بيضات ذهبية، وأدركا أنهما ارتكبا خطأً كبيرًا. الآن، لم يعودا غنيين لأنهما أرادا الحصول على الكثير بسرعة كبيرة.
Es war einmal ein Bauer und seine Frau, die in einem kleinen Dorf lebten. Sie waren nicht reich und führten ein einfaches Leben. Eines Tages fand der Bauer eine Gans, die anders aussah als alle anderen Gänse. Er beschloss, sie mit nach Hause zu nehmen und gut für sie zu sorgen.
Am nächsten Tag geschah etwas Erstaunliches. Der Bauer fand ein goldenes Ei neben der Gans. Er und seine Frau waren sehr überrascht. Sie verkauften das Ei und bekamen viel Geld dafür. Von diesem Tag an legte die Gans jeden Tag ein goldenes Ei, und der Bauer und seine Frau waren bald reich.
Aber sie wollten noch mehr Geld. Sie dachten, wenn die Gans goldene Eier legen konnte, dann müsste sie viel Gold in sich haben. Sie beschlossen, alles Gold auf einmal zu bekommen, indem sie die Gans aufschneiden.
Also nahm der Bauer die Gans und schnitt sie auf. Aber es war kein Gold darin. Durch das Töten der Gans verloren sie das besondere Tier, das sie reich gemacht hatte. Es gab keine goldenen Eier mehr, und sie erkannten, dass sie einen großen Fehler gemacht hatten. Weil sie zu viel und zu schnell wollten, waren sie plötzlich nicht mehr reich.
एक समय की बात है, एक किसान और उसकी पत्नी एक छोटे से गाँव में रहते थे। वे बहुत धनी नहीं थे और एक साधारण जीवन जीते थे। एक दिन किसान को ऐसी मुर्गी मिली जो बाकि मुर्गियों से अलग दिखती थी। किसान ने सोचा कि इसे घर ले जाकर इसकी अच्छे से देखभाल करनी चाहिए।
अगले दिन कुछ अद्भुत हुआ। किसान को मुर्गी के पास एक सुनहरा अंडा मिला। किसान और उसकी पत्नी बहुत हैरान हुए। उन्होंने वह अंडा बेचा और ढेर सारे पैसे कमाए। उस दिन से मुर्गी हर दिन एक सुनहरा अंडा देती और जल्द ही वे दोनों धनी हो गए।
लेकिन उन्हें और पैसों का लालच होने लगा। उन्होंने सोचा कि अगर वह मुर्गी सुनहरे अंडे दे सकती है, तो उसके अंदर और भी बहुत सारा सोना होगा। उन्होंने निर्णय लिया कि वे मुर्गी को काटकर सारा सोना एक ही बार में निकाल लेंगे।
किसान ने मुर्गी को काटा, लेकिन उसके अंदर कोई सोना नहीं था। उन्होंने लालच में आकर वह मुर्गी खो दी, जो उन्हें धनी बना रही थी। अब और सुनहरे अंडे नहीं बचे थे, और उन्हें अपनी बड़ी गलती का आभास हुआ। उन्होंने जल्दबाज़ी में सब कुछ खो दिया और अब फिर से गरीब हो गए।
Det var en gång en bonde och hans fru som bodde i en liten by. De var inte rika och levde ett enkelt liv. En dag hittade bonden en gås som såg annorlunda ut än alla andra gäss. Han bestämde sig för att ta hem den och ta väl hand om den.
Nästa dag hände något fantastiskt. Bonden hittade ett gyllene ägg bredvid gåsen. Han och hans fru blev väldigt förvånade. De sålde ägget och fick en massa pengar för det. Från den dagen gav gåsen dem ett gyllene ägg varje dag, och snart blev de rika.
Men snart ville de ha ännu mer pengar. De tänkte att om gåsen kunde lägga gyllene ägg, måste den ha massor av guld inuti sig. De bestämde sig för att få tag på allt guld på en gång genom att skära upp gåsen.
Så bonden tog gåsen och skar upp den. Men det fanns inget guld inuti. Genom att döda gåsen hade de förlorat det som gjort dem rika. Det blev inga fler gyllene ägg, och de förstod att de hade gjort ett stort misstag. Nu var de inte längre rika, eftersom de hade varit för giriga och velat ha för mycket för snabbt.
从前，有一位农夫和他的妻子住在一个小村庄里。他们生活简朴，虽然不富有，但日子过得平淡而满足。有一天，农夫在外面发现了一只与众不同的鹅。它看起来特别不一样，于是农夫决定把它带回家，好好照顾。
第二天，奇迹发生了。农夫在鹅旁边发现了一颗金蛋。他和妻子都感到非常惊讶。他们把金蛋卖掉，得到了不少钱。从那天起，这只鹅每天都会下一个金蛋，没多久，他们就变得富有起来。
然而，农夫和妻子贪心起来，想要更多的钱。他们想着，如果这只鹅能下金蛋，那么它的肚子里一定有很多金子。他们决定把鹅切开，拿出所有的金子。
于是，农夫把鹅抓起来，切开了它的肚子。但里面什么也没有，连一块金子都没有。他们因为贪心，失去了这只能让他们变得富有的鹅。从此再也没有金蛋，他们才明白自己犯了一个大错误。因为太急于求成，他们失去了本来拥有的财富，再也不富有了。
Kudala, umfama nomfazi wakhe babephila ubomi obulula. Babengezizo izityebi i, kodwa babenokwaneleyo. Suku ngalunye, babesebenza nzima kwifama yabo encinane, benyamekela izilwanyana nezityalo zabo.
Ngenye intsasa, lo mfama wadlula eshedini. Wabona irhanisi elalikhangeleka lahlukile kwamanye. Iintsiba zalo zazimenyezela kukukhanya kwelanga, phantse ngokungathi zikhazimla okwegolide.
“Eli rhanisi likhangeleka likhethekile,” umfama wacinga. Wagqiba kwelokuba alizise ekhaya aze alinyamekele kakuhle.
Ngentsasa elandelayo, xa umfama waya kuhlola irhanisi, wamangaliseka, ecaleni kwalo kwakukho into ekhanyayo.
“Iqanda legolide!” wakhwaza. Wabaleka ukuya kufuna umfazi wakhe. “Jonga, jonga! Irhanisi libeka iqanda legolide!”
Amehlo omfazi wakhe aba banzi. “Oku kufanele uxabiseka!” watsho ngochulumanco. Bathengisa iqanda baza benza eyona imali eninzi abakhe bayibona.
Ngosuku olulandelayo, irhanisi labeka elinye iqanda legolide. Emva koko labeka elinye ngosuku olulandelayo.
Usuku nosuku, irhanisi lalibeka iqanda elinye legolide. Kungekudala, umfama nomfazi wakhe babezizityebi. Kodwa njengoko ubutyebi babo babukhula, kwaba njalo nokubawa kwabo.
“Kutheni silindele iqanda elinye ngosuku?” umfama wakhalaza. “Ukuba irhanisi libeka amaqanda egolide, ngoko ke kufanele ukuba lizele yigolide ngaphakathi!”
Wanqwala umfazi wakhe. “Ukuba sithatha yonke igolide ngaxeshanye, asoze siphinde silinde!”
Umfama wavuma. “Kulungile. Masivule irhanisi kwaye siyithathe yonke!”
Kwaba, ngamaphupha obutyebi obungapheliyo, umfama wathabatha imela waza walivula irhanisi. Kodwa xa ejonga ngaphakathi, wothuka.
Kwakungekho golide. Lirhanisi nje eliqhelekileyo, njengalo naliphi na elinye.
“Hayi. Senze ntoni?” umfazi wakhe wasebeza.
Babenyolukile kangangokuba batshabalalisa kanye loo nto yayibenze bazizityebi. Ngoku, kwakungasekho maqanda egolide, yaye kwakungekho ndlela yokuwabuyisela.
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Word Finder
Shimmered
Shined softly with a moving light.Widened
Opened or expanded more than before.Gasped
Took a quick breath from surprise.Fortune
A large amount of money.Excitedly
Feeling very happy and eager.Wealth
Having a lot of money or valuable things.Grew
Became bigger or increased.Greed
Wanting too much of something.Grumbled
Complained in a low voice.Destroyed
Ruined something completely.
Understanding Questions
- What did the farmer notice about the goose when he first saw it?
- How did the farmer and his wife become rich?
- Why did the farmer and his wife decide to cut the goose open?
- What did they find inside the goose after they cut it open?
- How did the farmer and his wife feel at the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
- How did the farmer and his wife react when they found a golden egg next to the goose one morning?
- Why did the farmer and his wife decide to cut the goose open?
- Have you ever been in a situation where wanting too much led to losing something important? What happened?
- What lesson do you think this story teaches about greed and patience?
- How can we practice being thankful for what we already have in our daily lives?
Fable Quotes
In the haste to have it all, one can lose even the little that they have.
Patience is the gardener who reaps the golden harvest.
Even the smallest blessings can yield great wealth when met with gratitude.
Just One More Fable
- Friendship
- Deception
The Monkey and the Crocodile
A clever monkey outsmarts a crocodile, who tries to betray their friendship to please his wife, and they part ways.
- Consequences
- Responsibility
The Lion in A Farmyard
A lion entered a farm, the farmer trapped it but regretted it as the lion attacked and destroyed his animals.
- Honesty
- Wisdom
The Tortoise and His Children
A wise old Tortoise teaches his children the importance of honesty and not taking what isn't theirs, but later contradicts his own teachings.
- Consequences
- Regret
The Frogs Ask Zeus for a King
Frogs wanted a king, Zeus sent a log and then a stork that ate them, teaching them to be careful what they wish for!
Read it on paper, too
“The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
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