Once upon a time, there was a merchant who was very poor but wise. He had a daughter who was beautiful and had a son who was quite rich and wouldn't help his poor father and younger sister. One day, the merchant went into the forest to chop some wood. The forest looked like any other forest. Trees casting shadows on the ground, birds singing, the smell of tree sap. While the merchant was chopping wood, he thought about what it would be like to be rich. "If I was rich, me and my precious daughter would have a happy life," he said as he thought aloud. Just as he said this, an old-looking man with a long beard appeared out of nowhere right in front of the merchant. The merchant was so frightened he nearly fainted. "I ain't going to turn you into anything." The merchant looked confused. "What do you mean?" he replied. "I am a wizard. Can't you tell?" The merchant looked dumbfounded. "No." "Oh, well, that doesn't matter anyhow," the wizard said as he stroked his long beard with his hand. "I heard you would like to be rich?" It took a minute before a response came. "I suppose so." "I could help you, you know," said the wizard. The merchant brightened, then frowned. "But I have nothing to repay you." The wizard sighed. "Of course you don't, your poor, yes I'm aware of that. So I want you to do something for me that can repay." The merchant hesitated. "And what is that?" The wizard coughed in his hand, then said, "For many years, I have been
very ill. I have a furry friend who needs a caretaker. For I am passing and he won't have me anymore." The merchant looked at the wizard in sympathy. This favor would make me happy and full of relief. Would you keep my dog for me? Taking care of him is what I'm precisely saying." The merchant was about to say no, but then he thought about his daughter. She would love to have a dog by her side. And the merchant also felt bad for the wizard. So he then said yes. There was a big smile coming from the wizard. "Oh, you are so kind," he said. Then, out of nowhere, just like the wizard, a big golden retriever came out from behind the wizard and licked the merchant's hand. The wizard grinned. "Seems to me he likes you already." The merchant smiled at the dog. Moments passed until the wizard spoke again. "Now you will get this gift I offer for doing such a kind deed for me." The merchant was so happy. "oh, bless you wizard! I am grateful." Then they both shook hands and just before the wizard turned around to leave, he bended down in front of the dog with tears in his eyes. "Good bye old fellow. I may see you again in some other world." The wizard then walked into the woods until he disappeared. The merchant couldn't help but have some tears in his own eyes. He was glad that the wizard was at peace now. The merchant went home to tell his daughter the story. He was right. The dog made her very happy. So they were happy after that with a dog by their side and money to help them for the rest of their life. They lived happily ever after.
The End.
