A poor farmer was on his way home after visiting his son, with a pouch tied around his waist containing thirty silver coins his son had given him. While crossing a mountain pass, the farmer came upon a large rock. He sat down to rest for a while, then resumed his journey. But as he walked, he suddenly felt something missing. His waist felt light—he had left the pouch on the rock. Panicked, he rushed back and found an old man standing there, holding the pouch. The old man said, “If I took it, the one who lost it would be heartbroken. But if I left it, someone else might take it. So I waited.” Overwhelmed with gratitude, the farmer bowed deeply, his head touching the ground. Then he hurried on his way.
Not long after, dark clouds gathered and heavy rain began to fall. As the farmer approached a swollen stream, he saw a young man being swept away by the current. While bystanders hesitated, doing nothing, the farmer shouted, “I’ll give thirty silver coins to anyone who saves that young man!” At his cry, some strong men leaped into the water and rescued him. The young man, grateful to be alive, invited the farmer to his home. But when they arrived, the farmer was stunned—the old man who had guarded his pouch was the young man’s father.
This traditional Korean folktale offers a timeless lesson: kindness This traditional Korean folktale offers a timeless lesson: kindness given to others always finds its way back.
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