The Old Pot with Golden Écus

In Laines-aux-Bois, not far from the large city of Troyes, lived a wealthy curé, that is, a priest. Almost all the lands of the wide plain belonged to him. Shepherds grazed his sheep there. And the forests on the High Hills were also his, and believe me, the woodcutters had no reason to complain about a lack of work. So, you can probably guess that this curé had money, and quite a lot of it.

He could have lived and rejoiced, but no, suspicion got the better of him. He trusted no one and hid his money in an old pot, which he buried in the cabbage patch in his garden.

The curé had a servant, an honest and cheerful girl, and a young man often visited her—likely her fiancé.

One day, the curé received new money for the sold forest and decided to add it to the stash in the old pot in the cabbage patch. He waited for a dark night, dug up the soil in the right spot, lifted the heavy lid of the pot, and... bit his tongue to keep from cursing. Holy fathers aren’t supposed to use foul language, as you know. But how could he not swear when the pot turned out to be empty! Clearly, a thief had been there.

The next morning, the curé summoned his servant and asked sternly:

- Where is your friend?

- He left early this morning for Troyes!

- Tell him to return, or else things will get worse!

- That’s impossible, Monsieur Curé. He left on business. What happened?

- Well... um... - the curé hesitated, - some cabbage has gone missing from my garden.

- Oh, you should have said so right away! I cut it last evening to pickle it, so it wouldn’t freeze.

- And did your sweetheart help you?

- Of course! I couldn’t have managed it alone. We worked in the garden until dark, and as we were leaving, I noticed our neighbor, the shoemaker, near the fence—you know, where the big hole is? I even thought to myself, "What’s he doing here in such darkness?"

- So, you’re saying the shoemaker? Call him to me!

"That cursed hole in the wall!" thought the curé. "Surely, the shoemaker saw me hiding the money in the pot and stole it. The scoundrel didn’t leave me a single penny!"

When the shoemaker arrived, the curé asked him:

- How are things, neighbor?

- Better than ever! - replied the shoemaker.

"What a brazen man!" thought the curé, but he didn’t show his anger and instead spoke politely, in a friendly tone:

- Here’s the thing, my friend: I need a pair of sturdy, comfortable shoes, as I often have to walk to Troyes to see the bishop. Between you and me, he’s entrusted me with buying some land in our area.

- You’ll have your shoes! - promised the shoemaker. - I’ll start working on them today.

- Thank you! Do you need money upfront to buy the leather? Don’t hesitate to say so!

But the shoemaker had plenty of leather, and two days later, he brought the curé his shoes. The curé had never owned such a sturdy, comfortable, and handsome pair! He quickly put them on and set off for Troyes to see the bishop. Or perhaps to some other place.

When he returned, the shoemaker met him at the doorstep and asked:

- So, are you pleased with the shoes?

- Indeed, I’m very pleased. I didn’t even notice the road.

- And how is the bishop doing?

- Not bad, not bad. He gave me some money to buy him a better plot of land. - And the curé showed the shoemaker a hefty bag, though who knows what was inside? - But shh, not a word to anyone!

Now, you should know that while the curé was away in Troyes or wherever, the shoemaker ran to the garden and returned what he had taken. That night, he decided to go back and take all the money—both the curé’s and the bishop’s. What a sly fox!

But for every sly fox, there’s a slyer one!

That same night, the curé ran to his garden, dug up the old pot, and took out his precious money. In its place, he put a bundle of thistles.

The next night, the shoemaker, as planned, went to check the hidden pot. And he found it in the same spot! But there was no more money in it than in my wallet right now. And instead, you already know what he found. And though he didn’t eat the thistles, he certainly looked like a donkey. Or a fool, whichever you prefer.

More fairy tales

• The Thrush and the Fox
• Jean and Pierre
• The Return of La Rame
• The Little Cabbage Head That Just Wouldn't Grow
• About the Sorcerer's Apprentice