The Travelers and the Purse

"The Travelers and the Purse" by Aesop is a fable that tells the story of two travellers who discover a purse of gold on their journey. Their immediate bliss turns sour as they begin fighting over who found the purse first, and in doing so, they attract the attention of thugs who steal the purse from them. The story centers on the moral teaching that greed and selfishness often lead to loss.

• Children

								
Two men were traveling in company along the road when one of them
picked up a well-filled purse.

"How lucky I am!" he said. "I have found a purse. Judging by its
weight it must be full of gold."

"Do not say 'I have found a purse,'" said his companion. "Say
rather 'we have found a purse' and 'how lucky we are.'
Travelers ought to share alike the fortunes or misfortunes of the
road."

"No, no," replied the other angrily. "I found it and I am
going to keep it."

Just then they heard a shout of "Stop, thief!" and looking
around, saw a mob of people armed with clubs coming down the
road.

The man who had found the purse fell into a panic.

"We are lost if they find the purse on us," he cried.

"No, no," replied the other, "You would not say 'we' before, so
now stick to your 'I'. Say 'I am lost.'"

We cannot expect any one to share our misfortunes unless we are
willing to share our good fortune also.
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