Old Pipes and the Dryad is a short story by Frank R. Stockton about a man named Old Pipes who lives in a forest with his dog, Zero. One day, he meets a dryad who grants him three wishes. He uses his first wish to make himself young again, but then realizes that he misses the simple life of being old and content. With his second wish, he asks for a beautiful palace to live in, but soon becomes bored with its luxuries. Finally, with his third wish, he asks to return to his original state as an old man living in the forest with his dog. The story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the importance of being content with what one has.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1896 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Children's Literature