A poor man struggles to feed his large family until he captures a magical bird that lays golden eggs. The oldest son sells the eggs for bread, providing temporary relief. The goldsmith's son discovers an inscription on the bird, revealing that eating its heart grants kingship, while eating its gizzard brings daily wealth. The goldsmith arranges to marry the poor man's daughter, intending to consume the bird's heart and gizzard. Two of the poor man's sons, wanting to taste the bird, secretly eat the heart and gizzard, then flee in fear. They find work with a merchant, who unknowingly collects the golden ducats that appear under their bed each morning. After a year, they part ways. The younger brother, after losing all his money to two card-playing sisters, inadvertently reveals the source of his wealth. The sisters trick him into regurgitating the gizzard, which one of them consumes. Desperate and hungry, the younger brother eats a magical plant that transforms him into a goat. After discovering another plant that reverses the transformation, he returns to the tavern, where he tricks the landlady and her daughters into eating the plant, turning them into goats. He uses them to haul stones for his brother, now a king, who recognizes him. The younger brother restores the landlady and her daughters to human form, marries the girl who ate the gizzard, and they become wealthy from the daily golden ducats. The story concludes with themes of greed, transformation, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure