In olden times, when the Lord himself still walked among men, he grew tired one evening before reaching an inn. On the road stood two houses facing each other: one large and beautiful, belonging to a rich man; the other small and poor, belonging to a poor man.
The Lord thought, "I shall be no burden to the rich man," and decided to seek lodging there. When the rich man heard knocking, he opened his window. Seeing a traveler in common clothes, he shook his head. "No," he said, "my rooms are full. If I lodged everyone, I'd soon be begging myself." He shut the window, leaving the Lord outside.
So the Lord went to the small house. The poor man opened his door at once. "Stay the night," he said, "it is too dark to travel further." The Lord was pleased and entered. The poor man's wife welcomed him warmly, offering their humble meal of potatoes and goat's milk with all their hearts. That night, they insisted the weary traveler take their own bed while they slept on straw.
The next morning, after sharing breakfast, the Lord prepared to leave. At the door, he turned and said, "For your kindness, you may have three wishes, and I will grant them."
The poor man wished for eternal happiness, lifelong health, daily bread, and, when prompted, a new house to replace their old hut. The Lord granted all and blessed them before departing.
Later, the rich man awoke and saw a fine new house across the way. Astonished, he sent his wife to inquire. Learning the truth, he was filled with regret. "That traveler came to us first, and I turned him away!" he cried. His wife urged him to pursue the Lord and claim three wishes for himself.
The rich man galloped after the Lord and, with flattering words, begged for the same boon. The Lord warned him it would not be to his advantage but finally agreed: "Ride home. The next three wishes you form shall be fulfilled."
Riding home, the rich man pondered his wishes. His horse grew restless, disturbing his thoughts. In a fit of anger, he cried, "I wish your neck was broken!" The horse fell dead instantly, wasting his first wish. Miserly, he cut off the harness to carry it himself.
Now on foot under the hot sun, the saddle chafed his back. He grew irritable, thinking of his wife relaxing at home. Without thinking, he exclaimed, "I wish she were sitting on this saddle and couldn't get off!" The saddle vanished from his back—his second wish fulfilled.
He ran home to plan his final wish carefully, only to find his wife trapped on the saddle in their parlor, weeping. She called him a fool and demanded he free her. Forced, he used his last wish to release her from the saddle.
Thus, the rich man gained nothing but vexation, trouble, abuse, and the loss of his horse. Meanwhile, the poor couple lived happily, quietly, and piously all their days.