A Plain Gold Ring

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Title: A Plain Gold Ring

Author: Cabrakahn


There was once a young girl named Carolyn. She adored jewelry. She would often accompany her mother into town, and while her mother shopped for goods, Carolyn would go around to the various jewelry smiths in town and see what they had for sale. She would find the prettiest one, and point it out to her mother, and beg her to buy it. Her mother would always tell her that they couldn't afford it.

This went on for years, and Carolyn grew up, but her taste for jewelry never faded. She found that she couldn't do without it, and started taking the jewelry she wanted. She got it by any means, even stealing from those people whose shops she went to and knew her by name.

One day, a gypsy wagon pulled into town, selling all sorts of goods. The old woman driving the the wagon had a keen eye, and would watch those who looked at her goods. Everybody she saw had a good heart, and she dealt with them fairly.

This old gypsy woman had an extensive collection of jewelry she had gathered from the four corners of the world. She was proud of her collection, and knew the secrets of each piece.

Carolyn heard about the gypsy's collection, and knew that she had to see it. And when Carolyn approached, the gypsy woman could see into her heart and knew that Carolyn would do whatever she could to posess her collection. The old woman, not wanting to hurt Carolyn, but knowing that Carolyn was hurting the town where she lived, decided to teach her a lesson.

"Greetings child. I see that you wish to view my collection." "That I do, ma'am, and nothing you can say will dissuade me."

"Why my dear girl, I had no such thoughts."

"Oh? Then show me your goods!"

The gypsy woman pulled out the cases containing her collection, and laid them out for Carolyn to see. Carolyn beheld with her eyes such an array of beautiful jewelry that hers paled in comparison and she knew that she must possess it. The gypsy woman saw this desire, and knew that this was the time to act. "I see that somebody finally appreciates my collection. For that, I will show you my most prized piece." The old woman pulled out and opened a small wooden box. Inside was a plain gold ring. Carolyn had a keen eye herself for precious things and laughed.

"You must be daft to believe that that ring is of any value!"

"But it is the most valuable thing I own. This ring has seen more of this world than even I, and possesses a magic that even the most potent wizard has yet to probe."

Carolyn looked at it warily, yet she knew that the gypsy woman spoke no falsehood. "If that is true, then I must have it!" Carolyn stamped her foot down.

"Then it is yours," and the woman offered up the box. Carolyn snatched the box out of the woman's hands. "Thank you."And with that Carolyn walked off calmly, forgetting about the rest of the collection. The gypsy woman smiled, already seeing the ring work it's magic. Carolyn took the ring back to her house, and began to admire it.

She took the ring out of the box and put it on her ring finger. As she held her hand out to admire the ring, she noticed that the other rings she wore paled next to her gift. She took them off and wondered why she thought they were pretty. When she took off the ring, she placed it back in it's box, knowing that the ring was special and deserved to be placed apart. She admired the ring for weeks, all the while the rest of her jewelry seemed to grow less beautiful with each passing day, until one day she wondered what she ever saw in them. So Carolyn went around the town, returning jewelry that she had bought and stolen. The shop owners were so glad to have their stolen jewelry back, they gave Carolyn a gracious reward for their return. Carolyn, of course lied about where the pieces all came from. She understood that the glint of coin was more impressive than the glint of the jewelry. Before too long, the only piece of jewelry she owned was her gift, yet she yearned for the beauty she saw in the gypsy's collection, and that that alone would be worthy of her gift.

So Carolyn collected up her money and set out into the world, seeking out stories of the gypsy and her travelling wagon. She wandered for many years, following stories of the woman and her wonderful collection. And in every place she went, she saw people who did not have what she had. Carolyn saw that they had more need of the money than she, so she gave. With each coin she gave, she cared less about the gypsy's collection and more about the magic of the ring. It was on the day that she had given away all of her money, that she had finally caught up with the old woman.

"Ma'am, I have wandered for many years, trying to track you down. At first, I had planned upon offering up all of my money so that I might buy your collection of jewelry. As I travelled, I saw others who could do better by having the money than I, and was left with none. Now, all I wish is to know the magic of the ring."

"Fear not my child. While you have wandered these many years, I have kept my ear out for tales of you. When I first saw you, I saw only a selfish and greedy woman, caring only for herself. As I look at you now, I see that there is a sincerity in your soul. You have given up all that you own and in the process, you have returned what you had taken from others. You have found within yourself a compassion most genuine. Your search has taken you upon the path I followed. You have seen the troubles I have seen, and given what you could. Maybe now you can see what true beauty is." With that the old woman pulled out the cases containing her jewelry. Upon opening it, Carolyn saw that the pieces contained within were just ordinary looking pieces of jewelry. Carolyn looked shocked, and held out her ring.

"What about the magic in the ring?"

"The magic it held was the ability to show the wearer how things really looked. Here." And the old gypsy picked up a mirror and showed Carolyn her reflection. Carolyn only saw herself, her face creased with careworn lines.

"You may have my collection. Do with it as you see fit."

Carolyn took the collection back to her town, and sold it, knowing that she would feel more beautiful using the money to help others, than she would wearing the jewelry.