A solitary traveler made his way home from a distant land where he had hoped to improve his lot.

His efforts had been countless — his successes had been few.

As he walked along the dusty roadway, he came upon a worker toiling away at repairing his deteriorating fence and gate. Seeing that the worker could use a helping hand, the traveler quickly and quietly grabbed hold of the gate, allowing the worker to use both of his hands to properly secure the hinges and latch.

“I am a man of meager means,” said the grateful worker. “How may I repay your kindness?”

“I am a fortunate man,” replied the traveler. “I have a loving wife, a dry roof and a bowl of hot porridge waiting on my return. I require nothing but your good will.”

Noticing that the traveler’s boots were worn through the soles, the worker gifted him a pair of his own boots. The traveler thanked him for his generosity, placed his worn boots into his rucksack, and continued on his journey home.

Further along the way, the traveler encountered a farmer struggling to hitch his stubborn mule to a plow. Seeing that the farmer could use a helping hand, the traveler quickly and quietly took hold of the mule’s bridle and spoke gentle words to calm the beast, allowing the farmer to complete his task.

“I am a man of meager means,” said the grateful farmer. “How may I repay your kindness?”

“I am a fortunate man,” replied the traveler. “I have a loving wife, a dry roof and a bowl of hot porridge waiting on my return. I require nothing but your good will.”

Noticing that the traveler’s coat was threadbare and would not hold back the cold, the farmer gifted him one of own coats. The traveler thanked him for his generosity, placed his tattered coat into his rucksack, and continued on his journey home.

Once again, the traveler encountered a man with struggles. His milk cow had found a way out of the cowshed, had wandered far down the trail, and was resisting the dairyman’s efforts to return it to the barn. Seeing that the dairyman could use a helping hand, the traveler quickly and quietly joined the man to help usher the cow back to where it belonged.

“I am a man of meager means,” said the grateful dairyman. “How may I repay your kindness?”

“I am a fortunate man,” replied the traveler. “I have a loving wife, a dry roof and a bowl of hot porridge waiting on my return. I require nothing but your good will.”

Noticing that the traveler had no hat to protect his head from the heat of the day and the cold of the night, the dairyman gifted him one of his own hats. The traveler thanked him for his generosity and continued on his journey home.

As the afternoon shadows grew longer, the traveler came upon an approaching traveler headed to a distant land where he hoped to improve his lot. Noticing that this new traveler wore no boots to protect his feet, nor coat to hold back the cold, nor hat to protect his head from the heat of the day and the cold of the night, the returning traveler gifted him his newly acquired clothing.

He then reached into his rucksack and pulled out his worn boots and coat for his own use as he travelled homeward.

“I am a man of meager means,” said the grateful second traveler. “How may I repay your kindness?”

“I am a fortunate man,” replied the traveler. “I have a loving wife, a dry roof and a bowl of hot porridge waiting on my return. I require nothing but your good will.”

As nightfall settled in, the traveler opened the door to the comfort of his home beneath the dry roof, took in the aroma of the waiting bowl of hot porridge, and embraced his loving wife.

“I am truly a fortunate man,” he said.

Larry Wilson is a mostly lifelong resident of Niles. He can be reached at wflw@hotmail.com.