Fortune In Their Look
Long ago, there lived a poor man who used to tell his three little sons, "Dear children, try to develop the power of observation. Don't let anything escape from your notice. You'll have keen minds and ready wit, which are more valuable than wealth." The three brothers grew up following the wise advice of their father. Years passed by. The man grew old and weak and one day he died, leaving behind his sons, now three handsome youths. "Let's go out into the world and seek our fortune," they said and set off on a journey. For many weary days, they travelled, over mountains and valleys, across rivers and streams. One morning, the eldest one suddenly stopped and, looking at the ground said, "A horse had just passed this way." They had not gone very far when the second brother said, carefully examining both sides of the road, "The horse was blind in one eye." After a furlong, the youngest one exclaimed, "I think a woman and a child were riding the horse."
"You're right," agreed the other two and they resumed walking. Soon they came across a man. He was frantically looking for something. "Have you lost something valuable? You look so disturbed!" said the brothers. "Yes, I have," replied the stranger. "Is it a horse?" asked the first brother. "Indeed, it is so!" "The animal is surely blind in one eye," put the second one. "That's right." "And blind in the right eye!" "That's right! But how did you know?" asked the man, greatly surprised. "The horse carried a lady and a child, I suppose!" added the youngest one. By now the stranger was full of suspicion. "You're rogues who have stolen my horse!" he shouted angrily. "We haven't even seen your horse!" replied the three very candidly. "But you know everything about the animal and even who rode on it! Come on! Tell me, where have you hidden my wife and son?" demanded the traveler stamping his feet. "Friend," replied the brothers calmly, "We've only learned how to use our eyes and understand what goes on around us." But the stranger did not believe them and on the point of his sword made them march to the king's court. "Lord," he said, "these three young men have stolen my horse, my wife, and my only son. I'm absolutely certain about it. But they deny the charge."
"But, tell me, my good man, how do you prove that they are the culprits?" asked the king. "My wife and son followed me on horseback while I drove the sheep. Somehow they lagged behind and missed the way. Well, when I met these three young men they knew that I had lost a horse, that it was blind in the right eye, and it carried a lady along with a child. If they do not know where they are, who else will know?" said the shepherd. "If what you say is true, then surely these young men have indeed stolen your horse, perhaps to demand of you some ransom," said the king and looking sternly at the brothers, continued, "Now answer! What have you done with the man's horse, his wife, and his only son?" "Your Majesty," they said, bowing gently, "believe us, we're innocent wayfarers, out in search of fortune. In fact, we've never seen the horse nor those who rode on it." "Yet you know everything about them!" said the king sarcastically. "From childhood, we've learned how to observe. That's how we could describe the horse without ever having seen it," replied the brothers with a confident air. The king called his minister and whispered some instructions into his ear. The minister went out but was soon back with two men carrying a large wooden box. They placed it gently on the floor in the center of the hall. "Now, gentlemen, would you please let us know by your power of observation, what is in this box?" asked the king with a soft chuckle as he twitched his mustache.