Three Pieces of Advice Worth More Than Money

A poor man once worked for a blacksmith, toiling faithfully and honestly. For his labor, he received shelter and food. Thus, twenty years passed. When the poor man decided to leave, he asked the blacksmith to pay him for his work. The blacksmith grew sad:

"Stay, work for at least another year," he said. "You've been like a son to me, a kind helper in everything."

"When I left," replied the worker, "I left behind a young wife. She promised to wait for me for twenty years. So, I can't stay any longer."

There was nothing else to do. The blacksmith led his worker to a hidden room and gave him three gold coins.

"Go with God," the blacksmith said in farewell. "The reward I gave you isn't very large, but it's all I have, for a blacksmith doesn't live in wealth. But if you ever need help, come to me."

And so they parted. The worker set off on his journey back to his native village.

Along the way, he met three travelers heading in the same direction—two young men and an old, gray-haired man who could barely keep up. The young men struck up a conversation with the former blacksmith's helper. They asked him where he had worked, how much he had earned, and where he was going, and they told him about themselves. The old man remained silent, smiling as he watched the birds flitting through the bushes along the road.

"Who is this silent old man?" asked the former blacksmith's helper.

"That's our father," replied the young men. "He stays silent because he prefers to listen to the conversations of birds—he knows the language of birds. He is so wise that every word he speaks is precious; he never wastes them."

"And how much does his advice cost?" asked the worker.

"For a few words, he takes a gold coin," came the reply.

The worker thought, "I won't be any poorer if I give the old man one gold coin for some wise advice." With that in mind, he took out a gold coin from his pocket and gave it to the old man.

"Do not enter troubled waters!" the old man said.

As they continued on their way, the worker watched the old man listening to the chirping of the birds and thought, "I wonder what this old man will say if I give him a second gold coin?" So, he took out a second gold coin and handed it to the old man.

"When you see vultures circling above the ground—go and find out what has happened there," the old man said and fell silent again.

"Well," thought the worker, "I've seen birds circling above the ground many times, but I never went to see what was going on. I'll give the old man my third gold coin too—it doesn't matter now, with it or without it." And he gave the old man his last coin.

"When it's time to make a decision, first count to twenty-five."

Soon, the four travelers reached a fork in the road, and it was time for each to go their separate way. They bid each other farewell, and the worker continued on toward his village. Before long, his path was blocked by a river that he needed to cross at a ford. But the water in the river was churning and swirling. The former blacksmith's helper remembered the old man's first advice—not to enter troubled waters—and decided to rest on the bank and think about what to do next. He sat down on the grass and took out a piece of bread.

Just then, the sound of hooves was heard, and a rider appeared on the bank.

"Why aren't you crossing the river?" he asked the worker.

"Well, I don't want to enter the churning water," the worker replied.

"What a strange fellow," thought the rider, spurring his horse, which then rushed into the water. In the water, they were caught in a whirlpool; the rider drowned, but the horse managed to make it back to the shore. The worker caught the horse and rode off to find a bridge.

Soon, he found the bridge and continued on his way. As he rode past a hollow, he saw vultures circling above it. He remembered the old man's second advice, turned off the road, and rode there to find out what had happened.

There, he saw three dead bodies, with pistols lying nearby and a bag full of gold coins. These were robbers who had failed to divide the money, quarreled, and shot each other. The former blacksmith's helper took the bag of coins and continued on his way.

Finally, he reached his native village. Before entering his house, he decided to look through the window. He saw a festively set table, at which his wife and a man he didn't know were sitting. The man had his back to the window.

The worker shuddered in surprise, drew his pistol, and wanted to shoot his unfaithful wife. But just in time, he remembered the old man's third advice—to count to twenty-five before making a decision. And as he counted, the man stood up from the table and said:

"I'll go, mother, to search for father. It's been so many years since we last saw him."

"When he left home, you were three months old. Twenty years have passed, my son."

"Oh, I almost caused a disaster," thought the former blacksmith's helper, and he shouted through the window:

"Wife, son, come out and greet your guest!"

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Three Pieces of Advice Worth More Than Money

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