Gluck lost his inheritance but no matter the hardships he went through, he stayed true to his good heart. The
story teaches that goodness and kindness will receive their rewards fully.
Part I
Treasure Valley belonged to Gluck and his two
older brothers. It was named as thus because it produces goods abundantly. On the other side flowed a
river called the Golden Riverbecause the setting sun’s glow made it so. Gluck had a good heart but his brothers gave him a hard life. The West Wind punished the two older brothers for their bad deeds that Treasure Valley no longer held any treasure at all and became a dry land.
The brothers went to the other side of the mountains but only Gluck worked for all three. When they had no more wealth to spend in laziness, the older brothers melted Gluck’s beloved golden mug to
turn into spoons that they may sell. Gluck cried and wished the Golden River were golden so that he would not have to be poor.
Then, suddenly Gluck heard a voice. He was terrified when the melted gold became a little
man who introduced himself as the King of the Golden River. He told Gluck that anyone who threw three drops of holy water from which the river falls, at FIRST trial, would turn the river into gold. He warned that if anybody should threw unholy water, would turn to a black stone.
Part II
The eldest went first after quarrelling with the second. He carried with him a stolen bottle of holy water. He lost his basket of food upon his climb and he got thirsty. He saw a pitiful dog; a child and an old man along the way and all were nearly dying with thirst. He ignored them and drank from his bottle. When he reached the top of the river, he cast the bottle but something strange befell him, ‘and the river rose and flowed over THE BLACK STONE ‘
Part III
The second bought holy water from a bad man instead of stealing it. He climbed the mountain and like the first, he lost his food. He also met the old man, the child but the third, not at all the dog but his older brother. He passed by the first two and even laughed at his brother and so, he suffered the same fate as the first. Now, the river flowed over TWO BLACK STONES
Part IV
It was Gluck’s turn to go when his brothers did not come back. This time the priest gave it to him feely. Gluck was not strong as his brothers so it was more difficult for him to climb. He saw the old man and the child and Gluck pitied them that he shared his water. At last, he came upon the dog but he was worried that he would fail on his quest if he gave it the last drop of his water.
Kindness prevailed but after the dog drank, it turned into the King of the Golden River. He placed three drops of dew from a flower in the flask then told Gluck to cast it into the river and return to Treasure Valley afterwards. The Golden River did not turn into gold, of course but when Gluck returned to his former home, he saw a part of that river flowing through his land. Plants began to grow and the valley started to live up to its name again. Indeed, the Golden River was golden.
The Philippine Readers V, compiled by Camilo Osias and others, Ginn and Company 1947
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