The Magic Ring

Once upon a time, there lived a lazy craftsman who wasn’t particularly known for his kindness, in a tiny but very picturesque mountain village. His name was Alex. Though he was an excellent woodcarver, he often tended to procrastinate and avoid work. However, his biggest flaw was his unwillingness to help others unless there was something in it for him.

One sunny morning, Alex set out to carve an ornate coach but quickly lost interest long before finishing the job. As he lounged in the shade of his workshop, a traveling wanderer appeared at his door. The wanderer carried a gleaming ring, which he claimed possessed magical powers. He said to Alex:

“Master craftsman, I can see you are a skilled carver. Please repair my old walking stick, which is almost broken in two, and in exchange, this ring will be your reward.”

Alex hesitated. He didn’t think much of the walking stick, but the ring looked valuable. Finally, he agreed to the deal and quickly repaired the walking stick. However, when he slipped the ring onto his finger, he was surprised. It sparkled beautifully, but he immediately felt a strange energy emanating from it.

Within minutes, the ring began to tighten around his finger. A soft yet stern voice spoke from it:

“Listen here, Alex! When was the last time you swept up the wood shavings from the floor? Grab the broom and get to work, or I’ll get tighter and tighter!”

Alex could hardly believe his ears, but the ring’s grip became unbearable. He had no choice but to obey. By the time his workshop sparkled with cleanliness, the ring’s pressure eased. For the first time, Alex felt a small sense of satisfaction he rarely experienced.

That night at home, as he finally relaxed, the ring spoke again:

“Can’t you see the mess in here? Wash the dishes and tidy the house, or tomorrow morning, I’ll squeeze even harder!”

Alex slowly began to understand that the ring would only stop tormenting him if he kept his surroundings clean and in order. By the time he finished, his house and workshop gleamed. The villagers soon noticed a change in Alex. He now willingly helped others and always kept his space tidy.

One day, a young mother came to his workshop, asking him to carve a toy coach for her child. Alex eagerly got to work, and this time, he found joy in helping others without needing the ring’s prompting. The coach became the little girl’s favorite toy, and the mother generously rewarded Alex.

One morning, the ring disappeared, but Alex never forgot the lesson it taught him: kindness, diligence, and cleanliness make life much happier. The villagers still admire Alex’s work and often tell the story of the magic ring that transformed his life.