Autumn arrived and it was finally time to open the gourds. Talking about how wealthy they were going to be, they sawed open the first gourd. Out jumped hundreds of beggars. In a blink of an eye they were all over the house, eating every edible thing they could find.

“This can’t be!” screamed Nol-bu. “”Something is wrong. There’s been a mistake.”

“Surely there must be gold in the next gourd,” cried his wife.

Quickly they sawed open the next gourd. Out poured putrid night soil and covered them from head to foot. But they still did not give up. Slipping and sliding in the foul-smelling muck, they sawed open the last gourd. Out tumbled an army of ogres carrying large spiny mallets, and at once they began breaking down Nol-bu’s house. When nothing was left standing, they attacked Nol-bu and his wife. Then the ogres disappeared along with the beggars.

(page 5 of 6)