The Bread

Mother broke the small little loaf in two and out fell a number of gold coins...

During a great famine a rich landlord invited the twenty poorest children of the village to his mansion and said: "In this basket there is a small loaf of bread for each of you. Take it and come back every day until the Lord gives us better times."

The children rushed to the basket and in their haste thy began to quarrel and hit one another, for each sought to take the best loaf; and they left without even thinking the landlord for his kind thought.

Only Frances, a modestly dressed but clean little girl, stood timidly apart and took the smallest loaf that was left in the basket, kissed the landlord's hand with gratitude and went back home.

The following day the children were more misbehaving than ever and as usual Frances was left with the smallest loaf. When she returned home her mother broke the small little loaf in two and out fell a number of gold coins.

Her mother was very surprised and a little worried. "Take it back to the landlord immediately," she told her daughter, "I am sure there is some mistake."

Frances went back to the landlord but he said: "No, it is no mistake. I gave orders that some coins be placed in the smallest loaf to reward you, my dear child. Be always modest and satisfied. Whoever is content to take the smallest loaf rather than quarrel for the biggest one, receives a greater reward than that which can be found in a loaf of bread."

Don't insist to have your way

Nor cry for the toys you see;

Learn to see things mother's way

And happy you will be.