The Cobbler and the Financier

Once, there was a cobbler, a person who makes and repairs shoes. He was always happy and sang from morning to night while working. People loved watching him work and hearing his cheerful songs. He was happier than anyone else.

The cobbler had a neighbor who was very different. This neighbor was a rich financier who rarely sang and hardly slept. He made a lot of money but was not happy. Whenever he finally fell asleep in the morning, the cobbler's singing would wake him up. The rich man often thought, "I wish I could buy sleep as I buy food and drink!" One day, he had an idea and invited the cobbler to his house.

"Tell me, my friend, how much money do you make in a year?" asked the financier.

The cobbler laughed and said, "I don't know. I never keep track. As long as I have enough to live, I'm happy!"

"Really?" replied the financier. "But how much do you make in a day?"

"Sometimes more, sometimes less," answered the cobbler. "There are many holidays when I cannot work, and that makes it hard to earn money. But I manage."

The wealthy man laughed and said, "I want to help you. Here is a hundred pounds. Use it wisely."

The cobbler was very excited to receive the money. He thought it was a huge amount and quickly buried it in his cellar. However, his happiness disappeared. From the moment he got the money, he stopped singing and couldn't sleep. He was always worried about the money. He watched the cellar door all day and night. If he heard a noise, he thought someone was stealing his money.

Finally, the cobbler couldn't take it anymore. He went back to the financier and said, "Please, take your money back. Give me back my happiness, my songs, and my sleep."

The financier took the money back, and the cobbler returned to his simple, happy life, singing from morning to night once again.