The Little Purse with Two Half-Pennies

Once upon a time in the quietest village ever—seriously, you could hear a worm sneeze—there lived an old man and an old woman. The old woman had this hen, a proper diva of a chicken, that laid two eggs each and every day. She loved her eggy treasure so much she wouldn't even give one to the old man.

The old man, who was as grumpy as a cat thrown in water, finally had enough. "Oi, missy! How 'bout you slide an egg my way?"

"Not a chance," the old woman snapped. "If you want eggs, get your rooster to cough 'em up. After all, I had a little chat with my hen, and look, eggs for days!"

So, the old man stared down his rooster. "Listen, you walking feather duster! You're gonna start laying eggs or hit the road!" The rooster decided the road sounded better.

Off the rooster went on an adventure and found a purse full of shiny half-pennies. "Ka-ching! Cock-a-doodle-doo!" He raced home to share the loot.

But whoosh! A fancy carriage sped by with a man inside dressed like he'd just robbed a jewelry store. "What's that? A purse?" said the fancy man, and took it quicker than a hiccup.

"Nuh-uh, hand it over! Cock-a-doodle-doo!" The rooster chased the carriage like he was in a blockbuster movie.

Annoyed, the fancy man said, "Dump him in a well, will ya? I've got a gala to attend!"

But, ah-ha! The rooster guzzled all the water and flew out like a feathered rocket. "You can't drown this doodle! Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Getting desperate, the fancy man yelled, "Fine, throw him into a fire!"

Our rooster turned into a one-bird fire brigade! Spitting out the water, he extinguished the fire. "Try again, hotshot! Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

"Fed up!" said the fancy man. "Throw him in my treasure room. Maybe he'll gorge himself and get lost."

The rooster's eyes went wider than saucers. He chomped on gold, diamonds, and rubies. He got so big he almost got stuck in the door on his way out!

The fancy man was out of ideas. "Fine, take it! Just go!"

Our rooster wobbled home, jingling and jangling, and spat out mountains of riches and even a few cows and goats. "Cock-a-doodle-doo! Payday!"

Now the old woman's eyes nearly popped out. "Ooh, can I have some?"

The old man just chuckled, "Remember the egg embargo? No sparkly stuff for you!"

So, she tried to get her hen to bring some treasure. All she got was a fake shiny bead. She was so mad, her hen decided the great chicken coop in the sky was a safer place to be.

So, the old man lived like a rockstar, and the old woman had to deal with her big, fat lesson in sharing. And the rooster? Oh, he wore gold boots and strutted around town, getting fan mail from all the other birds. Every time he crowed "Cock-a-doodle-doo," it was like he was saying, "Be cool, be kind, and the world's your oyster—or, you know, your henhouse."

Old Man, Old Woman, in a town so small,
She had a hen, laying eggs, two-for-all.
She ate them herself, no share, no care,
Old Man just watched, sat back in his chair.

"Hey, can I have some?" the Old Man inquired,
"No way," she said, "get your own, I'm tired.
My hen lays eggs 'cause I gave her a tap,
Get your rooster in gear, let him fill the gap!"

Old Man then told his rooster, "Listen here!
Lay eggs or leave, make it crystal clear."
Rooster ran off, but found on the way,
A purse with coins that would brighten his day.

A carriage passed by, with folks dressed so grand,
They took the purse, yes, they took it from his hand.
"Bring back my purse," crowed Rooster aloud,
"Dump him in the well," said the man, so proud.

But Rooster drank up the water, flew to the sky,
Chased down the carriage, gave another loud cry.
"Toss him in the fire!" yelled the angry man next,
But Rooster spat water, left the man vexed.

"Among the bulls," yelled the man, "maybe they'll stop him!"
But Rooster gulped them down, his chances not grim.
"Fine, have it back!" sighed the man, done with the chase,
Rooster crowed proudly, a smile on his face.

Back home he went, gold and herd on display,
Old Man cheered, "My rooster saves the day!"
Old Woman asked, "Can I have some gold, a piece or two?"
"Like you shared your eggs? This gold's not for you!"

She thumped her hen, who found just a bead,
She thought it a gem, but it was glass indeed.
She thumped her hen once more, and oh what a sight,
The hen didn't move, it was out like a light.

Old Man was rich, Old Woman stayed poor,
Rooster strutted around, folklore evermore.
Kindness he showed, and the lesson was clear:
Greed leads to loss, but kindness is dear.