The Shepherd, the Donkey, and the Diamond

“Goodness gracious, I’m so late! Managing you is a real chore,” grumbled a shepherd, his voice laced with exasperation as he addressed his donkey. The donkey, a stubborn creature with a perpetually unimpressed expression, merely flicked its ears.

“I trek from village to village, trying to feed us both,” the shepherd continued, his words tumbling over each other. “But you’re nothing but trouble, never listening to a single word I say!”

Muttering to himself, the shepherd trudged along the rocky path. The sun beat down, dust swirling around his worn sandals. Suddenly, a glint of light caught his eye.

“What’s that?” he exclaimed, his weariness momentarily forgotten. He approached cautiously, a mixture of wonder and apprehension in his eyes. It was a stone, smooth and brilliantly sparkling. He looked around – the landscape was deserted, silent except for the buzz of insects. With hesitant fingers, he picked it up.

“Look at this,” he said to his donkey, holding up the stone. “A shining rock! Want it? I’ll put it around your neck.”

And so, with a length of rope, the shepherd fastened the glittering stone around the donkey’s neck. The donkey, seemingly pleased with its newfound adornment, nudged the shepherd affectionately. A smile spread across the shepherd’s weathered face.

“Come on, let’s get you some water, and I’ll have something to eat too. I’m exhausted,” the shepherd said, his voice softer now.

They reached a small village, where a tiny general store stood beside a water trough for animals. The shepherd approached the shopkeeper, a kindly old man.

“Excuse me, sir,” the shepherd asked, “May I give my donkey some water from the trough?”

“Of course, my friend,” the shopkeeper replied. “It’s there for just that purpose. And you look tired too – take some water from my jug.”

The shepherd gratefully accepted the water. “Thank you, sir. May God bless you.”

“You’re welcome,” the shopkeeper said. “But tell me, what’s that shiny thing around your donkey’s neck?”

“Oh, it’s just a stone I found. I liked it, so I gave it to him,” the shepherd explained.

The shopkeeper chuckled. “Seems you like your donkey more than yourself!”

“He’s my companion, through thick and thin,” the shepherd replied, his voice full of affection.

“Well, I’d be willing to buy that stone from you,” the shopkeeper offered, after a pause.

“I don’t really need it, sir. If you give us enough food for a few days, I’ll gladly give it to you,” the shepherd said.

“A sack of wheat then. It’ll feed you both,” the shopkeeper agreed. The shepherd, overjoyed, readily exchanged the stone for the wheat.

The shopkeeper, for reasons unknown even to himself, decided to keep the stone. He placed it in the center of his scales, its brilliance attracting the attention of passersby. A few days later, a jeweler passed through the village. The stone’s radiant glow drew him to the shop.

“My word!” exclaimed the jeweler. “Where did you get this magnificent stone?”

The shopkeeper recounted the story of the shepherd and his donkey. The jeweler’s eyes widened as he recognized the stone as a priceless diamond. He offered to buy it, but the shopkeeper, having learned the value of bargaining, held out for a significant sum. The jeweler, initially believing he could acquire the diamond cheaply, was outmaneuvered. A wealthy merchant, whose car had broken down near the shop, saw the diamond and, recognizing its worth, immediately purchased it for a substantial sum. The shopkeeper counted his fortune, grateful for the unexpected windfall.

The next day, the jeweler returned, furious to discover his opportunity had slipped through his fingers. The shopkeeper, however, merely smiled. “I may be a simple man,” he said, “but I learned to value what I have. You, on the other hand, let greed cloud your judgment.”