"The Beggar" by Frederick S (Bonus Entry)

There was once a beggar that sat on the corner of Main St. He was blind and could not work and so he would beg to all the lads and maidens who passed by the road but no one stopped to pay attention.

Now there were three brothers. They were always known for their pilfering ways. One day, they were sitting by the best pub in town when a journeyman wandered there. This man was tired from his passage but he stopped when he saw the old beggar. “Please help me,” the beggar croaked, “Please!” The journeyman took sympathy on the old man for he had once had to take care for his passed father before. The brothers followed and saw the journeyman muttering to the old man, “Here, this should last you for awhile.” He reached into his bag and handed the beggar a golden bar. “Yes, the time has finally come.” the oldest brother whispered, “We will finally be able to have anything we want!”

As the twelfth bell of midnight rang, the brothers snuck up to the beggars sleeping spot on the corner. The third brother was chosen to get the gold but as he was wriggling it away from the beggar’s bag, it slipped. The old man then immediately shot up and turned his head around. Reaching for his bag he realized his metal bar was gone. “Hey, Hooligans!” yelled the beggar, “Give that back!” The oldest brother yelled back, “Only of you can get it from us, old fool.” “You will rue this day and Death will have his revenge!” the old man replied. Then the brothers continued to other towns and eventually sold the gold bar to an auction man for a high price. Soon enough, the brothers ventured out on their own in search of a way to satisfy their dreams.

The eldest brother traveled to a nearly city where there were many prominent figures and challenged the ones who made him poor to a gamble. When he won he strutted around flaunting his money to everyone in site. That night, a local thief snuck into his room and killed him and took all his money. And so Death took the first brother for his own. The middle brother decided to try and reclaim his lost love who left him for his poverty. But she rejected him for she had married and faithful. So the brother fell to depression and killed himself. And so Death took the second brother for his own.

The third brother, however, realized the wrong of their ways and returned to the town and waited for the beggar. Day and night, the brother waited without food or drink until he heard the old man; “You have returned.” he said. But the brother was blinded by the sun and couldn’t see his face.

“You have regained your sight?” the brother asked. “You can say that.” replied the beggar.And so Death greeted the third brother like an old friend.