The Case of the Stolen Smell

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

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

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

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

The baker made the most wonderful bread.

Der Bäcker machte das wunderbarste Brot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The good smell made his poor meal taste better.

Durch den guten Geruch schmeckte sein armes Essen besser.

The baker saw this happen many times.

Der Bäcker hat das oft erlebt.

He became angry.

Er wurde wütend.

"This man is stealing from me!"

"Dieser Mann stiehlt mir!"

he said.

Er sagte.

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

"Er riecht mein Brot ohne zu bezahlen!"

The baker went to the judge.

Der Bäcker ging zum Richter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

asked the judge.

fragte der Richter.

"Yes, sir," said Tom.

"Ja, Sir", sagte Tom.

"I have no money for good food.

"Ich habe kein Geld für gutes Essen.

The smell helps me eat my dry bread."

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

The judge turned to the baker.

Der Richter wandte sich dem Bäcker zu.

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

"Wie viel willst du für den gestohlenen Geruch?"

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

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

The judge nodded.

Der Richter nickte.

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

Er fragte Tom: "Hast du drei Silbermünzen?"

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

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

They were all he had in the world.

Sie waren alles, was er auf der Welt hatte.

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

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

Tom shook the coins.

Tom schüttelte die Münzen.

They made a pleasant ringing sound.

Sie ließen ein angenehmes Klingeln hören.

"Baker, did you hear that sound?"

"Baker, hast du das Geräusch gehört?"

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.