A farmer has fallen into poverty and is starving. He had been rich, having inherited the farm and many possessions, but sold them all to avoid having to work. Now he only has one goose, which he plans also to sell. However, the goose lays a golden egg, which the farmer is able to sell for a lot of money.
Further golden eggs follow, and the farmer becomes rich again. Consumed with greed, the farmer wants to get all the golden eggs at once, and cuts the goose open to get at them. There are no eggs there, and now that the goose is dead, no more eggs to come. The farmer is soon poor again.
More from this series
23. Two Travellers and a Bear. audio
Written by Sue Reid, read by Richard E Grant
25. The Kid and the Wolf. audio
Written by Sue Reid, read by Lindsay Duncan
26. The Old Lion and the Fox. audio
Written by Tracey Hammett, read by the late Richard Briers
