Story: A Farmer and a Purse of Gold

Once there lived a poor farmer who worked very hard to maintain his big family. But he could hardly manage two square meals a day. One day while working in the field ………

Answer:

Once there lived a poor farmer who worked very hard to maintain his big family. But he could hardly manage two square meals a day. One day while working in the field he found a basket. He picked it up and carried it home. When he showed it to his wife, his wife was really very delighted and advised the farmer to use it for their own purpose. At this the farmer fell in a fix. He was very honest. After a while, he said to his wife that it was not there. He must find out the real owner of the purse. The wife tried to prevent him from giving it back to the owner of the purse.

But the farmer said,” that honesty is the best policy and we all must be honest. This is not my own. So why should I use it?” His wife was dishonest. At this the wife of the farmer got disappointed. But the farmer went out searching for the real owner of the purse. He had to work hard in search of the real owner.

At last he found out the real owner. He returned it to the owner, The owner of the purse was happy and wanted to reward him for his honesty, But the farmer said that he was happy to find out the real owner of the purse. The farmer further said that honesty itself is a reward. He again asked the farmer to count the money in the purse to see whether everything was alright. The owner of the house did not reward him. He simply thanked him and the farmer went back home happily. The honest farmer did not expect any reward from him.

or,

Once there lived a farmer in a village. He had a few acres of land. In his lands, he grew some crops. With this small income, he would support his family with much hardship. So he always thought how he could add to his income. One day while he was walking through his fields, he found a purse of gold. He thought it might be dropped by a passer-by.

He was surprised but not greedy for it, rather, decided to find the owner of the purse and return it to him. However, he carried it home and showed his wife. The farmer’s wife got tempted to see it and advised him to use it or a part of it for themselves. But the farmer said that honesty is the best policy. In a few days, the farmer found the real owner of the purse and gave it back to him. The rich man received his lost purse from the farmer with joy and gave him only thanks but no reward.

At this the farmer’s wife rebuked him for his foolishness. But yet this time, the farmer said that honesty is the best policy. Some days later, the rich man, who is the owner of vast landed property, sent for the farmer. He rewarded him a lot of money and employed him the overseer of his lands. Thus honesty was at last rewarded and was proved to be the best policy.

Or (Shortened) 

Once there lived a farmer in a village. He used to support his family with the small income from his lands. So he always thought how he could add to his income. One day while he was walking through his fields, he found a purse of gold. He carried it home and showed his wife. Being greedy, the farmer’s wife advised her husband to use the gold coins for themselves to remove their sufferings. But the farmer was honest and said that honesty is the best policy. He promised to find out the owner of the purse and return it to him.
However, the farmer announced of the purse in the open market and in a few days, the real owner of the purse was discovered. The owner became highly pleased with the honesty of the farmer. He gave him some gold coins as reward. Making the best use of them, the farmer grew rich within a few months. Thus honesty of the farmer was rewarded and proved to be the best policy.