A magpie returned to its nest, proud and bursting because it had just found a piece of gold. The shimmering of the precious rock could not compare with the shine in the magpie’s eyes. She took her treasure and added it to her collection of gold. So far, she had five pieces that she had snatched from unsuspecting noblemen. Seeing the amount of gold she had collected, the magpie threw back her head in song.

“Joy! Oh joy! Today is the day of all days. A magpie has gathered more than any man could wish! She holds in her nest what every man desires! Oh, how they envy! Oh, how the yearn! A magpie has gotten farther than any magpie before! Five – aye, five – pieces of gold lie here! All must now kneel before me! Five! Fi–”

“Kneel? Ha! I hold twice as much gold in my nest!” A voice cackled.

“Ten? No, that can not be! Come out and show yourself, liar!” The magpie screeched.

Out from the forests came another magpie. He perched on the highest branch of the adjacent tree. “Yes, ten! What you hold is nothing compared to mine.”

“You lie! No magpie has ever reached ten.”

“You speak with confidence.”

“I am confident. If you had ten, why do you not sing every morn about your wealth?”

“Perhaps because I have my senses.”

“Nay, I do not believe you. Show me your ten pieces.”

“Only if you show me your five.”

“Very well, then. I will count your pieces, and you shall count mine.”

A coyote that had been listening to the entire conversation stepped out from the woods. “Forgive me for eavesdropping. My mother taught me it was a sin. However, I believe this count will be unfair. Obviously each will make the other a liar. Let me count the gold, and I shall fairly declare the winner.”

The magpies, both very eager to win, brought out their gold and brought it down to the coyote. The coyote took the piles of gold, and counted them carefully. After many moments, he looked up to the magpies. “The winner is neither. You both have no pieces of gold, while I have fifteen. Therefore, I am the winner.” With that, the coyote leapt into the woods, leaving the two magpies ashamed of their boasting.

Moral: The shine of gold often blinds us of our senses.