Stone soup

Long ago, there came to a poor village a group of shady looking characters. People peeked out their windows, around corners and paused by the sides of the roads, as they wondered what the strange group were up to. They rarely had strangers passing through here, there was nothing much to see, and even less to offer.

Naylor, Nesbit, Norward, Norwood, Osbert, Edda, Edith, Ethel and Eartha came walking by, hauling a one wheeled contraption in the form of a cart. It clanged and rattled mightily, being made to do so deliberately to attract attention.

On the cart was a huge empty cooking pot.

"Is there a stream nearby"? Asked Norwood.

No one answered at first, the townsfolks were skeptical of people walking around with large empty pots. They hoped these people were not here to beg them for the little which they had.

"We wish to make some soup, is all". Eartha said loudly.

"There is a stream over that way". A young lad piped up. He was instantly shushed by his parents.

"Much obliged lad". Osbert said, doffing a make believe hat.

Some of the men went to the woods, gathered sticks and stones and proceeded to make a fire, which was roaring in no time. Osbert and Edda fetched the water, and the pot was soon starting to boil.

Naylor pulled a huge white stone from a bag and dropped it into the pot.

One of the villagers became curious and asked what they were doing. The travelers answered that they were making "stone soup", which tasted wonderful and which they would be delighted to share with the villagers, although it still needed a little bit of garnish, which they were missing, to improve the flavor.

The villager, who anticipated enjoying a share of the soup, did not mind parting with a few carrots, so these are added to the soup. Another villager walks by, inquiring about the pot, and the travelers again mention their stone soup which has not yet reached its full potential.

Yet another came walking by, carrying a scallop, still in its shell, which he had walked a long way to collect from the sea. Into the pot they convinced him to throw his catch.

More and more villagers walk by, each adding another ingredient, like potatoes, onions, cabbages, peas, celery, tomatoes, sweetcorn, meat (like chicken, pork and beef), milk, butter, salt and pepper. Finally, the stone (being inedible) is removed from the pot, and a delicious and nourishing pot of soup is enjoyed by travelers and villagers alike. Although the travelers have thus tricked the villagers into sharing their food with them, they have successfully transformed it into a tasty meal which they share with the donors. Everyone had their fill to eat.

The visitors tell the villagers that the stone is the secret and magical ingredient which gives the soup the delicious taste. Norward, the money collector, offers to sell them the stone.

"With the stone, your bellies will never be empty. Just drop it in the pot of water and you will have instant soup".

"How come you didn't have instant soup then". One lone young girl shouted.

"Quiet child, mind your manners". Her mother admonished. They should have listened.

They collected what little money was available and gave it to the rascals.

The visitors rinsed their pot and quickly hurried away. Everyone slept well, their stomachs were well filled.

Next day, the women of the village came together and decided to make a large pot of delicious stone soup. The fire was made and the pot of water started boiling happily. In went the stone. Taste as they tried, the magical stone was not working. They all checked their larders, the cupboards were bare. They had thrown all of their last ingredients into the pot of the wily strangers.

By noon, everyone's stomach started growling quite loudly. What were they to do.

Suddenly, a figure appeared running down the road. It was Norwood, from the thieving group. They had been set upon by robbers where they camped out and needed the villagers help. Armed with pitchforks and anything they could find, they hurried to offer help to the fiends.

They got there just as the robbers were running off. The villagers were rabid, hunger had made them desperate. The robbers were beaten, stripped of everything and sent running away in fear.

Then the villagers turned upon the original thieves. They took everything, the pot, the cart, all the money and clothes, barely leaving them with anything. They found lots of seeds which they could plant and start a large food garden. The pot still had some soup from a new batch which the thieves had made. The villagers ate it all up.

The young lady who had spoken to them earlier, gathered some large stones and gave the thieves as a parting gift.

"These are magic stones, just ask them for anything that you need. Perhaps they can even make you some delicious 'stone soup' ".

................................................................................

Stone Soup is a European folk story in which hungry strangers convince the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food in order to make a meal that everyone enjoys, and exists as a moral regarding the value of sharing. In varying traditions, the stone has been replaced with other common inedible objects, and therefore the fable is also known as axe soup, button soup, nail soup, and wood soup.