An Old Man's Treasure

In the over the hills and far away days, when farmers cut their corn with scythes, a thrifty old man farmed in Gilfach Fargoed.

One day, he fell ill and his dog would do nothing but make a rumpus outside the farmhouse. The farmer then knew that he must certainly die because dogs have the power to see death as it draws near.

Chewing the cud of his doom, he realised that he could count his earthly days on the fingers of one hand, not two. So, he summoned his sons and said, “My dear boys, I feel my life ebbing away. Soon I will be with you no more but I bequeath you all the treasure I own. It is buried in my land, but you must dig deep down to discover it.”

When the farmer shuffled off his mortal coil, the brothers dug like slaves searching for the treasure, but, their hopes were dashed when all they could find was a rubble of black rocks.

As hungry as hunters after their toil, the brothers collected firewood to cook a meal. They were flabbergasted when the black rock caught fire and burned like wood. But sooner than later, the brothers knew full well the value of their father’s testament. They sold the coal from their land and made a mine of wealth.

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