Mythological Stone Soup

An old stranger was walking through the land when he arrived in a little rural community. When he enters the villagers walked to their homes locking doors and windows. The man smiled and asked why they are so alarmed. I am a simple traveler looking for a soft place to stay for the night and a warm place for a meal. The people said there is nothing to eat in the whole area and he replied “I have everything I need, in fact I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you.” Taking an iron cauldron from his cloak and filling it with water he began to build a fire under it. With great ritual, he took a regular stone from a shiny bag and dropped it into the water.

Hearing the rumor of food nearly all of the villagers had come out of their homes or were watching from their windows. As the stranger sniffed the cooking broth and licked his lips in anticipation hunger began to conquer their fears. I like a tasty stone soup said the stranger loudly, but it would taste better with some salt and pepper. A villager came with some salt, pepper and a carrot. The butcher put in some leftover meat and so it continued with other villagers putting in potatoes, onion, mushroom, etc. until it was a delicious meal for everyone to share.

The village elder offered the stranger a massive amount of money for the magnificent stone, but he declines to sell it and continued his travels the next day. On the way out of the village he passed a group of village children standing near the road. He gave the shiny bag containing the stone to the youngest child, saying it was the villagers that had performed the magic not the stone.

Mythological Stone Soup

Heat some water in a pot over a hot fire, add a stone, salt, herbs, spices, carrots, onion, etc. and let it boil until it is an ideal soup. Remove stone and place in a safe place for later use, taste soup and share with loved ones.

Note:  This is a retelling of an old tale where everybody wants to be a part of and to share a creation. Another famous soup fable from 1858 is written by H. C. Andersen is “Soup from a sausage skewer”.

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