Fate and the Weary Traveler

The sun was warm but the wind still when the path revealed 

itself in the dense woods. The traveler wandered aimlessly not 

knowing that Fate followed his footsteps just over his shoulder. 

His attention was on his own destination even when he saw 

Fate close on his heals. He brushed Fate aside and even 

ignored the warning from the red headed woodpecker 

tapping out “Tread carefully for Fate is following thee.”

The traveler sought his own fortune thinking that his map 

of the world was a better guide. He trusted the telescope 

to look to his future and walked for several miles ignoring 

Fate again and again, and at times even turning to face him 

then chasing him away. The traveler walked this way until he 

was too tired to go on and finally rested along the side 

of the road.

The weary traveler fell asleep in the dark without knowing 

he was on the brink of a steep embankment. 

Soon Fate discovered him once again. 

"This fool," Fate said, "could have an uneasy dream and roll 

off the side of this precipice and die. Some would say that 

I did it.  I do not like to be unjustly accused of things I have 

not done so I will see that doesn’t happen to me."

After saying this Fate pushed the young man and he rolled 

off the side of the embankment. 

The traveler rolled down the perilous cliff tumbling downward 

until he reached the bottom, but he was not injured. Instead 

he awoke upon the rocks. He tried to find his way back up 

when he noticed the sparkle of a stone partially hidden by 

the fallen leaves. He cleared the foliage and branches to 

discover a beautiful ring with a gleaming diamond 

the size of an acorn. 

He took the ring and carefully placed it on his finger so he 

could safely climb back up the side of the hill. He cautiously 

found his way back to the path and headed toward the next town. 

When he arrived he showed the treasure to all he met praising 

Fate for his good fortune. The two traveled together the rest 

of their days.

Moral of the Story: Sometimes fate must shove you off an embankment 

                             for you to find your fortune.