Der Fall des gestohlenen Geruchs

Vor langer Zeit lebte in einer belebten Stadt ein armer Mann namens Tom.

Long ago in a busy town, there lived a poor man named Tom.

Er hatte kein Geld für Essen, aber jeden Tag ging er an einem Bäcker vorbei.

He had no money for food, but every day he walked past a baker's shop.

Der Bäcker machte das wunderbarste Brot.

The baker made the most wonderful bread.

Der Geruch war so gut, dass Tom anhielt und ihn tief einatmete.

The smell was so good that Tom would stop and breathe it in deeply.

Eines Tages brachte Tom ein Stück hartes, trockenes Brot von zu Hause mit.

One day, Tom brought a piece of hard, dry bread from home.

Er stand vor dem Bäckerladen und hielt sein Brot am Fenster.

He stood outside the baker's shop and held his bread near the window.

Als er das frische Brot darin riechte, aß er sein eigenes trockenes Stück.

As he smelled the fresh bread inside, he ate his own dry piece.

Durch den guten Geruch schmeckte sein armes Essen besser.

The good smell made his poor meal taste better.

Der Bäcker hat das oft erlebt.

The baker saw this happen many times.

Er wurde wütend.

He became angry.

"Dieser Mann stiehlt mir!"

"This man is stealing from me!"

Er sagte.

he said.

"Er riecht mein Brot ohne zu bezahlen!"

"He takes the smell of my bread without paying!"

Der Bäcker ging zum Richter.

The baker went to the judge.

"Dieser arme Mann stiehlt mir jeden Tag den Geruch meines Brotes", sagte er dem Richter.

"This poor man steals the smell of my bread every day," he told the judge.

"Er muss mich für das bezahlen, was er genommen hat".

"He must pay me for what he has taken."

Der Richter hielt diesen Fall für seltsam, aber er rief Tom vor Gericht.

The judge thought this was a strange case, but he called Tom to court.

"Ist es wahr, dass du das Brot des Bäckers riechst?"

"Is it true that you smell the baker's bread?"

fragte der Richter.

asked the judge.

"Ja, Sir", sagte Tom.

"Yes, sir," said Tom.

"Ich habe kein Geld für gutes Essen.

"I have no money for good food.

Der Geruch hilft mir, mein trockenes Brot zu essen".

The smell helps me eat my dry bread."

Der Richter wandte sich dem Bäcker zu.

The judge turned to the baker.

"Wie viel willst du für den gestohlenen Geruch?"

"How much money do you want for the stolen smell?"

"Drei Silbermünzen", sagte der Bäcker mit einem gierigen Lächeln.

"Three silver coins," said the baker with a greedy smile.

Der Richter nickte.

The judge nodded.

Er fragte Tom: "Hast du drei Silbermünzen?"

He asked Tom, "Do you have three silver coins?"

Tom griff in seine Tasche und zog seine letzten drei Münzen heraus.

Tom reached into his pocket and pulled out his last three coins.

Sie waren alles, was er auf der Welt hatte.

They were all he had in the world.

"Schüttle die Münzen in deiner Hand", sagte der Richter.

"Shake the coins in your hand," said the judge.

Tom schüttelte die Münzen.

Tom shook the coins.

Sie ließen ein angenehmes Klingeln hören.

They made a pleasant ringing sound.

"Baker, hast du das Geräusch gehört?"

"Baker, did you hear that sound?"

asked the judge.

"Yes, I heard it clearly," said the baker, eager to get his money.

"Good," said the judge.

"The payment is complete.

Tom has paid for the smell of your bread with the sound of his money.

The sound of money for the smell of bread - this is fair.

Tom, you may keep your coins."

The baker's face turned red.

He had been too greedy.

Tom walked away with his coins still in his pocket, and the people in the court smiled at the wise judge's decision.

Moral: If you try to sell what costs you nothing, you may be paid with the same.