The Golden Swans

A poor woman and her daughters lived near a lake. A kind swan with golden feathers visited them regularly, shedding one feather each visit so they could sell it and live comfortably. Gradually their poverty disappeared. But the mother grew greedy. "Why wait for one feather at a time? Let us catch the swan and pluck all the feathers at once!" The daughters protested, but the mother was determined. When the swan next visited, she grabbed it and plucked every golden feather. The moment they were plucked by force, the golden feathers turned into plain white ones, worthless and ordinary. The swan, now bare and hurt, flew away and never returned. The family was left with nothing — poorer than before, punished by their own greed.