I don't think I've ever finished a story before, in my whole life 0.0 I was very shocked. So, it ain't the best at all and the grammar is hoooorrible, but I finsihed it! However badly written it may be.

The Poor Mans Treasure

By

T/Reese

It was raining. Again. Some people did not mind rain, but some did. More, at least, who I know, hated it. They missed the sun smiling away. The full moon closing his eyes. The twinkling stars singing goodnight. The birds chirping by their windows to sing “wake up, wake up, wake up, my friends! Another day has come!” But the birds were in their nests, and none showed up those days. The roads were empty, and houses full, the chimneys glowing, the children crying, dripping and quiet forests … but there was one who did not stay in, who did not cry, who did not desert the roads and forests. He walked about the forests in joy, smelling the damp and dripping branches and leaves. He would often walk for an hour, and then sit down by the first prettiest tree he came to; to him, it was pretty even though the rain slowly dripped down…one drop by one. When sitting, he would open his soggy pack, and pull out the soggy bread and cheese, and the small bottle of fresh water, and eat and drink. When he finishes, he walks to the towns, and looks at all the pretty shops and tents. Oh, how he would wish, now and then, that he could buy a new cloak, but he could not. He huddled against his own old cloak, thankful he had one at all. When he passes, people look at him. What do they see in him? I do not know. For, when they tell me what he is like, they are so engrossed in telling such wonderful things about him.
But this man walks on, and on, and on, and on, …until he walks far away from them, and he comes to a large, large, large, building.
“‘Ho, poor man, what do you seek? For this is King Ohnavi’s Castle; what could a poor ragged man like you want and receive from it?” Came a voice by the gates,
“‘Ho, poor guard, what do I seek? I seek nothing, I want nothing, but might I receive something – that is a different question. For I hope, if one can spare, your King Ohnavi shall care for me for a day, until I return to my journey.” Replied the man,
“Then, poor man, you do seek something!”
“Only if the King wishes it, poor guard.”
“On with you! Poor, poor, ragged man! We have no need for you here! On with you!” And with that, the poor man bowed, smiled, and left the poor guard’s presence.
So this man walks on, and on, and on, and on …until he comes to a large sized house. Candle lights and shadows were lit behind the twelve windows, the chimney was smoking and the smell of roast beef, ham and potatoes could be smelt.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Creak.
“‘Ho, poor man, what do you seek? For this is my home – and there is only room for one woman to stay! What could a poor ragged man like you want and receive from me?” Came a voice by the door,
“‘Ho, poor woman, what do I seek? I seek nothing, I want nothing, but might I receive something – that is a different question. For I hope, if one can spare, your home shall care and take me in for a day, until I return to my journey.” Replied the man,
“Then, poor man, you do seek something!”
“Only if you wish it, poor woman.”
“On with you! Poor, poor, ragged man! I have no need for you here! On with you!” And with that, the poor man bowed, smiled, and left the poor woman’s presence.
So this man walks on, and on, and on, and on, …until he comes to a medium size house. Children ran outside and hopped in the puddles as the rain came pouring down. The chimney was smoking and the smell of beef stew, vegetables and bread could be smelt.
He passes the laughing and playful children.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Creak.
“‘Ho, poor man, what do you seek? For this is my home – and there is only room for three children and a mother and father to stay! What could a poor ragged man like you want and receive from me, a poor and weary working father like me?” Came a voice by the door,
“‘Ho, poor father, what do I seek? I seek nothing, I want nothing, but might I receive something – that is a different question. For I hope, if one can spare, your home and wife and children shall care for me and take me in for a day, until I return to my journey.” Replied the poor man,
“Then, poor man, you do seek something!”
“Only if you wish it, poor father.”
“On with you! Poor, poor, ragged man! I have no need for you here! On with you!” And with that, the poor man bowed, smiled, and left the poor father’s presence.
So this man walks on, and on, and on, and on, …until he comes to a small house, with piles of chopped up wood by the side, the chimney lit and the smell of fresh bread and pie could be smelt.
So the poor man walks up to the door, and:
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Creak.
“‘Ho, poor man, what do you seek? For this is my home – and there is only room for my cat and an old maid! What could a poor ragged man like you want and receive from me?” Came a voice by the door,
“‘Ho, poor maid, what do I seek? I seek nothing, I want nothing, but might I receive something – now, that is a different question. For I hope, if one can spare, your home and cat shall care for me and take me in for a day, until I return to my journey.” Replied the man,
“Then, poor man, you do seek something!”
“Only if you wish it, poor maid.”
“On with you! Poor, poor, ragged man! I have no need for you here! On with you!” And with that, the poor man bowed, smiled, and left the poor maid’s presence.
So this man walks on, and on, and on, and on …until he comes to a pretty tree, with its dripping leaves and damp branches.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Shwoop.
“‘Ho, poor man, what do you seek? For this is my home. What could a poor man like you want and receive from a poor blue bird in a tree and nest, like me?” Came a song by a branch,
“‘Ho, poor blue bird, what do I seek? I seek nothing, I want nothing, but might I receive something – that is a different question. For I hope, if one can spare, you, your home, some food and rest, shall care for me and take me in for a day, until I return to my journey.” Replied the man,
“Then, poor man, you do seek something!”
“Only if you wish it, poor blue bird.”
“Come with me, poor man, I will show you where you can stay. Stay in my home, rest and feast, though little my amount may be. Warm yourself and watch yourself, sleep until you may return to your journey.” And the poor blue bird led the poor man under a thick tree branch, where the rain would lightly tap against.
“Thank you, dear poor blue bird. You are the only friend to help. Your kind thoughts and charity towards me is a greater treasure than anything.” With that, the poor man fell asleep, and dreamt of spring flowers, the sea, and a clear blue sky.

Now the next day, the rain had stopped, and the poor man had woken up to say: “Dear poor blue bird! Look at the sky! It is a lovely blue, so clear – oh so beautiful!”
The poor blue bird flew up and away, and soared beneath the changing clear blue sky.
“Ah! Dear poor man! A lovely day it tiss! The clear sky, the blooming flowers, the green, green trees, the rose bushes, ah! Ah!” And he sniffed the cool windy air.
“I must go in to town, dear poor bird, to try and get more food.” Before the poor man left, he took his soggy pack and filled it up with all the green leaves he could find, from the trees or the ground. So the poor man walked on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on…until he came to a small town, where people passed around him, carrying packages or children or animals or wood. Behind a crowd, the poor man found a table with food set on it.
“Would you like to buy an apple, poor man?” The boy behind the table asked,
“Dear poor boy, I should not like to have an apple, for, I should like to have two apples. But I have no money to spare! If I give you this green leaf, will you give me an apple or two?” Asked the poor man,
“Green leaf? -Certainly not!! On with you! And go beg somewhere else!” Hollered the boy behind the table of food.
So this poor man walks on, and on, and on, and on … until he comes to a baker. This baker was just opening up his bakery, as he yawned and smiled at the morning animals and people passing by. So the poor man walked up to him with a friendly smile and said, “Oh dear baker, would you mind if I could have two slices of the fresh hot bread you make? I hear it is the best in town!”
“Surely you may, poor man!” Answered the baker,
“I thank you, dear baker!” The poor man replied.
And so the baker entered his bakery and gave the poor man some fresh baked bread. “For a small fee,” said he.
And at this, my friends, you can imagine the poor man’s reply, “I have no silver, or gold, or any sort of rich jewelry to give, but I do have this green leaf to give you, for the kind favor you have bestowed upon me.”
“Green leaf? Certainly not, poor man! I work all day on bread, seven days a week and I will not give the precious hot loaf for a green leaf!” Cried the baker, “On with you! I do not want you here! Go beg somewhere else, pitiable old man!”
So this poor man walks on, and on, and on, and on … until he comes to a short bridge which crosses a river. There, legs crossed at the edge of the short small bridge sat a short small boy, about twelve or thirteen years of age, eating his lunch. The poor man walked up and knelt beside him, smiling kindly to the waving river that passed below.
“Hello there, boy!” He greeted him joyfully,
“Hello, mister!” Replied the young boy with a mouthful of a cookie, as he held the ham and bread to his lips.
“Beautiful day! Is it not, boy?” The poor man asked as he eyed the blue sky and flowing white clouds.
“Aye, it is, mister!” Said the boy, as he took a bite of the ham and bread after swallowing the cookie.
“Might you share with a poor old man like me?” The poor man asked lightheartedly.
“But…” The boy swallowed the first bite and began to take another, when the poor man put a gentle hand on him,
“Please, boy? You have more than enough there, and I doubt you will finish it all. Look at it! You have enough saved for dinner, ha!” The poor man chuckled as he eyed the chubby faced boy.
The boy thought this over for a moment, and then looked at the poor man and said, “You are a poor man, why don’t you go beg to a rich man?” He then looked down at the river and thought again, “I will give you some of my lunch, poor mister, for three gold coins!”
“I have no three gold coins, nor two, nor even one, for that matter. But I have this beautiful green leaf to give you, if you give me only a half of your meal.”
The boy thought this over for a moment, then, looking at the poor man, he said, “I will not share my lunch for a green leaf! Off with you, poor man, and leave a growing boy alone! Off, I say, or I shall send the dogs upon you!”
And that was the end of the chubby faced boy by the bridge above the river.
So this poor man walks on, and on, and on, and on … until he comes to a great Lord, clad with rich jewels and a silver circlet and a silk golden cape, sitting upon a milk white horse with a pepper grey tail. His hair blew about his face down to his shoulders, and his hand rested upon a golden hilt of his sword. Oh, yes, one would pass by him with his jaws fallen and his mouth wide open, for he was so bright and shiny, one would have to step away. Oh how some wished they could be him! Nothing was missing, for he had everything. Or, so one would think by a glance. But there was something the poor man did notice missing, and that was a light face, a smiling pair of lips, a generous heart, and loving eyes.
“Hello, sir!” The poor man greeted the rich lord.
“Is that how thee greet thy Lord Halivar, poor man!?” Raged the lord,
“Pardon, sir, for I did not notice you were clad with rich jewels and a silver circlet and a silk cape of golden, sitting upon a milk white horse with a pepper grey tail – or your golden sword, for that matter. For when I see, I do not see the outside.”
“What nonsense thou hast spoken!” Replied Lord Halivar,
“Nonsense to the outside, but to the inside? Aye, not so.” And the poor man tapped the golden sword and sheath by the waist of the rich lord with his walking stick. “Tell me, my lord,” Began the poor man, “Do you have anything you can give me, some food maybe? Only once slice of bread and two slices of thin cheese and a cup of cider?” One knows that is a silly question to ask a rich lord, for if there is a lord, he is bound to live in a palace with everything, and not one thing mission – except a light face, smiling lips, a generous heart and loving eyes.
“Certainly not, poor man! For dost thou not know – I am a weak traveling man who hath traveled many miles to reach this road, and here thou hast arrived after much toil and hardships. I cannot give thee any of the food of which thou hast heard asked for.” And that, my friend, was the rich lord’s reply.
“If that will be all, my friend, then off I be! To find another man who shall give of what I ask.” But before the poor man left, the rich lord reached down from where he sat on the milk white horse with the pepper grey tail, and grabbed the poor man’s shoulder.
“Wait, poor man! Thou shall give thee what thou hast asked for, if willing to do it for thirty gold coins.”
“I cannot give you any gold or silver coins, my lord, but I can give you this beautiful green leaf for what you will give me!” Answered the poor man. But the rich lord did nothing but spat at the poor man and galloped away…on his milk white horse with the pepper grey tail.
Ah, so you know what the poor man does next, for he walks on, and on, and on, and on… until he comes to a lake, where a man is fishing.
“Ho!” Cried the poor man as he reached the edge of the lake where the man sits fishing, “And what might ye be catching today, sir?”
“Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing at all, poor man.” Came the answer from the fisherman, “I am a poor husband, with five mouths to feed including myself! I have four poor children and a wife- I have no fish for you – no! No! No – nothing at all. They are biting terribly, terribly – terribly – I tell you.” But the poor man was not one to be fooled so easily. Oh yes, he knew of the bucket load of fish that hid (very badly hidden, might I add…) underneath a bush. He knew the fish were not biting terribly, and he knew the man was not married, for no golden ring placed itself upon his left hand. He knew.
“Very well, then. And what if I was to give you something very valuable for your fish you have caught?” The poor man asked. At this, the fisherman’s head rose and his eyes gleamed.
“Dear poor man! I should like thirty fine gold and silver pieces very much so!”
“Oh, but poor fisherman, I have no silver or gold or even a shiny stone! But I have this beautiful green leaf to give you, if you are willing to give me some of your fish.”
“A green leaf for these wonderful fish? Certainly not!!! Go on old man I do not want to see your face again! Begging for wonderful fish, for a green leaf, when I have five mouths to feed including my own-? Disappear old beggar!”
And at that, off he went! Just like that. So this poor man walks on, and on, and on, and on … until he comes to a quiet, dirty, dusty, lonely road, where a woman lies upon it, dressed in ragged clothing and no sleeves or coat. The poor man stopped, and looked at the poor woman lying upon the road, who could at any time have been run over by a wagon. So he helped her up and pulled her to the side of the road, her face as white as snow and her legs as weak as if wind blows on a strand of hair.
“Dear, dear…dear…dear….kind… man…” She muttered weakly, “thank you…thank you…”
“Dear poor woman, I am only too happy to have helped you! Here…” And the poor man wrapped his only cloak around her bare shoulders, “do not remove it. I would give you a home with me if I could, dear woman, with a warm bed and blankets and hot food, but you see, I have nothing. This is all I have to give.” And so he patted her shoulder and stood, stepping onto the road to find what he seeks, as he did before.
“Wait!” Came the soft voice of the woman on the ground. The poor man turned, to see her hand reaching for his. “Take this-” And she handed him her only stale crumb of bread. “You must be hungry. Your clothes are dirty and your hair is messy, and your cheeks are black. I have had my share, take it, and then you may return to your journey.”
“Because of your charity, of one who has nothing but this stale crumb of bread, dear woman, I will give you this beautiful green leaf. It will never die, never…” And he handed her a leaf from his pack, and she took it gratefully. “If you need anything, take this green leaf, and if you find one similar to it in the woods, hanging on a short brown tree, then make a wish, and it will come true. For now, take these,” He handed her another green leaf, “and keep them safe, and wish only for good things for yourself and others.” He patted the poor woman’s shoulder, and went to leave. “And remember,” he added, “it never dies.”

So this poor man walks on, and on, and on, and on … until he comes to a pretty tree, with its swaying leaves and wood branches.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Shwoop.
“Welcome back, dear poor man!” The bird sang along as it flew around the tree. “And, did you find what you sought? Did you find any food, dear, poor man?”
“Oh yes.” replied the man, “I found what I sought, and there is plenty food to go around.”

And until that day, my friend, that poor woman lying in the streets, is no longer in the mud, but in a little cabin with plenty of food, for she listened to the poor man’s words and bought only what she needed. No, she had no mansion and no large feasts with King’s and Quean’s, for there was only one King and Quean for her, and they kept watch over her until the end of her days.

As for King Ohnavi and the woman and the three children and a mother and father and the cat and old maid and the boy with the apples and the baker and the chubby boy and the Lord Halivar and the fisherman, well let me tell you, never had they seen the poor woman so happy in all theirs and her life. And, never did they see the face of the poor old beggar man again. They do not know what happened to him, or where he went, but all they knew was the light face of the poor woman, and their own guilty souls.