The Merchant
Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there lived a merchant in a small village. He was a merchant very skilled in his craft. They said he could sell about anything to about anyone. He could sell a slice of cheese to a cat, or a glass of milk to rat. He could sell apples to a bee, or honey to a tree. He could even sell words. A penny for his thoughts, and a dime for dozen. But above all else, he was honest in his trade. He only sold what he meant, and he meant what he sold. Everything was with utmost honesty, and that's what made him so successful. He was loved and respected by everyone in the village.
The Baker and his son, used to give the merchant fresh bread each morning. Warm and soft, straight out the oven! The Bard and the birds, used to sing him lovely songs each morning. Oh, what wonderful songs were they! The Village Doctor and the nurse, would give him fresh herbs ever so often. Afterall, a happy person is a healthy person! By noon, the Local Advisor and his council, used to share advices and wisdom and counsel for him. The merchant appreciated all the insight! And by the evening, the Shepherd and his flock, used to greet him goodnight. Such wonderful and kind souls were they! Everyone was happy. The merchant was the happiest in the world — until he wasn't.
He had everything in the world, so why did he want even more?
The merchant had achieved everything. He had seemingly perfected his craft, yet the merchant felt like something was still missing. He wanted more. He was the best merchant in his village, and even the best in his land, but he wanted to be the best in all of the lands, and in all of this world. He thought he was grateful for all he had, but it seemed that now suddenly, dissatisfaction and discontentment was breathing down his neck, insatiably. Or maybe it wasn't really as suddenly as it had seemed. The tree of greed still has its roots planted somewhere afterall. So one day the merchant head out in search of an answer into the forest beyond the village. They said there lived a witch in a hut in the middle of the forest who could grant any wish, for a certain price. The merchant travelled for three days and for three nights in the forest to go meet the witch, and finally, after his long and tiring journey, he found the witch's hut. "What do you desire of me, dear merchant?" the Witch asked him. "I want to be the best merchant in every village, the best in all of the lands, and in all of this world. I want to be able to sell anything. From gold, to goods, to lies, and hurt. I want to be absolutely perfect in what I do", the merchant replied. "And what will you offer me for this wish, dear merchant", asked the witch. "Anything, and everything", said the merchant. And so the witch took what held him back. She took his honesty away from him. For this dear wish of his, she took away his Heart.
Having achieved what he had set out to do, the merchant returned to his village. Eager to test out his new skills he went to the cat and the rat. He started to talk to them and after some time, he managed to sell the rat as food to the cat. The cat obliged, and the rat died. Next, he went to the bee and the tree. He started to talk to them and after some time, managed to sell the bee's stinger to the tree and the tree's roots to the bee. The bee lost its stinger and fell ill, and the tree lost its roots and withered away. The Baker went to give bread to the merchant, and instead, sold him his hands with which he kneaded and baked his bread each morning. The Bard went to sing his songs to the merchant, and instead, sold him his tongue instead with which he serenaded the village each morning. The Village Doctor went to share his herbs with the merchant, and instead, sold him his nose with which he separated medicine from poison. The Local Advisor went to share his counsel with the merchant, and instead, sold him his ears with which he listened to the problems of his fellows. And the Shepherd went to greet the merchant goodnight, and instead, sold him his eyes with which he watched over his flock all day. The merchant could finally sell anything to anyone! And all it took was the villagers getting hurt one by one, losing themselves slowly to the merchant one after another.
Eventually, they all got together and held a trial for the merchant. "You are harming us all, cruel merchant. What do you have to say for yourself?" demanded the villagers. "I'm only doing my job and selling you what you need and want. If you are getting hurt by it, then that means you want and need that hurt. I am not at fault" replied the merchant. People, swayed by his charm started agreeing with him slowly. "You lie, dear merchant!", spoke a voice from the crowd. "You have lost all honesty and sell lies, and hurt, and pain, to the people who gave you so much love and respect". "Who speaks?" demanded the merchant. Standing amongst the crowd, speaking up with a frail voice, was the merchants Heart who had escaped from the Witch's hut. "Hang this deceitful merchant", claimed the merchants Heart, and the villagers all started joining in. "Hang him! Hang him!". The merchant pleaded and pleaded but the villagers had had enough. The got the noose ready and hung the merchant at sundown.
The next day the body of the merchant was lowered and a villager screamed in surprise. "Who is this!". Where the merchant was supposed to be, there was the body of another villager instead. It seemed that the merchant had sold his own body to a villager, who now hung in his stead. They searched and searched and searched, but never found the merchant again after that.
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.
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They say he's still out there, taking the bodies of everyone he meets. But no matter whose body he steals, he can never steal their heart. So whenever you meet someone extending a friendly hand and a charming smile, someone close to you, offering you your wants and desires, please beware. The skin they wear might not be theirs.