This story happened a long time ago, somewhere in Europe, in the middle of a bitter
winter. There was a terrible famine throughout the land. In the villages, people were so
hungry that each family kept their food hidden away, so that no one else would be able
to find it. They hardly spoke to each other, and if any food was found, they fought over it.
B One day, a poor traveler arrived in a village and set up his tent by the side of the
road. He had with him a large pot, a wooden spoon,
and a stone.
dYou canrt stay here,g said the villagers.
dTherers no food for you!g And they raced back to
their houses to make sure no one would steal their
food while they were away.
dThat doesnrt matter,g said the stranger. dI have everything I need.g
He gathered sticks and built a fire in the
middle of the main square. Then he placed his pot on the fire
and added some water. He glanced around and noticed that
he was being watched from every window and from every
doorway. He smiled with satisfaction as the steam rose from
the pot. Next, he took an ordinary stone from his pocket,
which he carefully placed in the pot. He stirred the soup and waited patiently for it to boil.
By this time, the villagers were full of curiosity. Several of them had gathered
around the pot. dWhat are you making?g they asked.
dStone soup,g replied the man. dIt smells good, doesnrt it?g And he sniffed the
soup and smiled in anticipation. dOf course, a little salt and pepper would really help
the flavor.g
dI think I could find some salt and pepper,g said one of the women, and she ran
back to her house to fetch the salt and
pepper to add to the soup.
dHow tasty it would be with a tiny
piece of garlic,g said the traveler.
dI might have a tiny piece of
garlic,g said another villager.
dIf only we had some potatoes, too,
then it would really be delicious,g said the
stranger.
dIrll get you a potato,g said another
man and rushed home to fetch it.
D Soon the rumor had spread around the whole village. Someone was making
a delicious soup with a special stone. People came from every house to smell the
bubbling soup, and each of them brought an extra ingredient to make the soup taste
even better. They were so hungry, and the soup smelled so good. dIt must be that
special stone,g they said.
Finally, the man declared that the soup was ready and it was time to eat.
The villagers each brought a dish, and there was plenty of food for everyone. They
talked and laughed, and for a while they forgot the famine and the cold. Even long after
the famine had ended, people still remembered that night and the finest soup they had
ever tasted.