In a peaceful region of Norway, a boy named Per grew up in a comfortable farming family. He never had to worry about food, shelter, or warmth. His parents loved him deeply, and his life was far easier than most. But instead of feeling grateful, Per believed he deserved more. He looked beyond his family’s land and imagined a world filled with glittering treasures and grand adventures. In his heart, he believed that true happiness could only be found in wealth, power, and everything bigger than what he already had.
One spring morning, Per wandered into the forest and met an old man sitting beneath an ancient oak tree. The man seemed to understand Per’s restless heart. He handed Per an old sheepskin and explained that placing a gold coin on it would magically double the amount. He also offered a warning. Per was told to stop once he felt he had enough because greed would eventually take back everything it gave. Per ignored the warning, raced home, and immediately tested the sheepskin. Gold multiplied in seconds, and soon his small fortune grew into a mountain of riches.
As the coins kept doubling, Per became the richest person in the kingdom. He built a grand castle, hired countless servants, threw extravagant celebrations, and wore the finest clothes money could buy. But the more he owned, the more he craved. Even unlimited wealth could not satisfy a heart ruled by greed. Per convinced himself that he deserved more than just gold. He wanted beauty, prestige, and the kind of love that would prove he was greater than everyone else.
Eventually he set his sights on a princess known for her kindness and extraordinary beauty. Per spent enormous amounts of gold hosting lavish festivals and constructing a palace so breathtaking that it impressed even royalty. The princess agreed to marry him, though she sensed something troubled beneath his wealth. After their wedding, Per continued using the magical sheepskin, not because he needed more, but because he wanted control, power, and endless greatness. One evening, the princess gently asked why he never stopped. Per, blinded by ambition, declared that he wanted every island, every mountain, every kingdom, and glory without limits.
His words frightened her, and she begged him to stop before he lost himself. But Per refused to listen. That night, he stacked every remaining coin on the sheepskin for one final multiplication. A cold wind swept through the castle as the sheepskin glowed red. The old man’s voice echoed around him, telling Per that he had become consumed by greed and had forgotten what “enough” truly meant. In an instant, everything vanished. The gold dissolved into nothing. His magnificent castle crumbled into dust. His clothes turned back into rags. Worst of all, the princess disappeared. The sheepskin, once magical, was now dull and lifeless.
Per found himself alone in the same forest where the adventure had begun. He returned home only to discover that his parents had passed away while he was chasing fortune. Empty-handed and heartbroken, Per finally understood the truth. Happiness does not come from owning everything in the world. It comes from knowing when you have enough and valuing love and gratitude over wealth. He spent the rest of his life helping others, working honestly, and living simply. Though he never regained the riches or the princess he had lost, Per found something far more valuable. He discovered inner peace, contentment, and the understanding that true wealth lives in the heart, not in what we own.