Joanna was a very good girl. She was very poor. One day, a magician gave her a beautiful white hen.

 The next day, Joanna went to see if the hen had laid an egg for her breakfast. To her surprise, the hen had laid an egg, but it was made of solid gold.

 She felt please having seen the golden egg. She took it straight to show her mother. Both of them went to a jeweler’s shop to sell it. With the money they bought many things they lacked-food, clothes, shoes and other articles.

Since that day onwards, Joanna became a rich but haughty girl. On one occasion, she refused to give even a loaf of bread to a little boy who asked for it.

 Joanna had treated the boy badly. The next day, she went to collect the golden egg laid by the hen. To her disappointment, she found fried eggs only."What is this? Where are the golden eggs?" asked Joanna angrily.

 Now Joanna turned towards the hen and said to it, "Are you not ashamed of laying such rubbish?"

Then, she began to beat the poor hen with her broom. The poor bird was very frightened by the rage of Joanna.

 The next day, the magician appeared in front of Joanna again and said, "It is not the fault of your hen that it is not laying golden eggs. It is your fault as you are not charitable to the poor. This is why I have punished you. The hen will not lay golden eggs any more until you change your ways.

 Joanna was very sorry and ashamed. She understood that it was a punishment she well deserved. She ran out in search of the poor boy whom she insulted. She invited him to a dinner.

 Since that day onwards, the hen continued to lay the golden eggs, which Joanna distributed among all the poor children of the town.