�mThe dragon�fs fountain�n

 The place was shining by the sun of spring.
 There were two tombstones and one boy. The boy looked like about twelve years old, and he had black hair and deep dark eyes. But then his eyes were filled with tears.
 The two tombstones were his parents�f.
 �gLeafa, come here. Get back home!�h The boy turned to the voice. But he still wanted to be there.
 �gLeafa, you will live in my house. Obey my words.�h The voice was going away. Leafa said good-bye to the tombstones, and he followed his uncle.
 When Leafa�fs parents died, he was looked after by his aunt and uncle. They were the richest in the village, but they were too stingy. So they were hated by all the village. It was their reputation that they didn�ft give even the core of an apple.
 By the way, they had a daughter named Cris. She wasn�ft like her parents, she was pretty and tender. She had light blue eyes and beautiful heart. So even though her parents were stingy and cold, if she was smiling, they smiled together.
 Now, Leafa arrived at his uncle�fs home. It was so big and beautiful. �gMy house has twelve rooms, and one dining room and kitchen, you will clean all rooms and take water and chop wood and other works�h, his uncle said on entering his house. Leafa was surprised and said, �gI can�ft do everything you say. I don�ft have enough strength.�h His uncle was angry and shouted, �gIf nobody received you, Leafa, you couldn�ft have any food, and would be afraid of the night! You must be grateful to me.�h Leafa couldn�ft say anything. He was so little.
 Leafa was given the smallest room. Since then, he worked all day. His small arms were used not to catch insects but to clean rooms have heavy pails. He could rest only eating and sleeping.
 But he had only one pleasure. That was his cousin. She often helped him, and Leafa felt that she was his older sister. He liked her, and Cris liked hers cousin.
 One day, Leafa heard an interesting thing �|His uncle ran an inn, so he could hear many things from travelers �| which said that, �gThis regions has one dragon. The Dragons realize a prayer, if a man gives him a thing which is proportionate to the prayer.�h
 That day Leafa went out of the house at midnight. He went to the mountain. Of course, he wanted to see the dragon and realize his prayer.
 He climbed and climbed. After a while, the moon was shining. He was too tired, so he sat on a rock. Soon he was surprised. The ground was shaking. �gWhat is happening?�h He cried. But to look carefully, he was more surprised. The ground was a dragon!
 �gAre you a dragon?�h He asked, but dragon didn�ft answer. He gave a groan. �gWhy do you suffer?�h Leafa asked. �gIt is a curse,�h the dragon said for the first time. �gI killed a giant. So this pain is a giant�fs curse!�h He gave a groan again. The dragon corered his big mouth. On watchig it, Leafa laughed., �gThat pain is not a giant�fs curse.�h And said, �gThat is tooth decay. Please open your mouth.�h The dragon opened its mouth reluctantly. Leafa looked at the opening mouth. Soon he understood what was paining him. It was not tooth decay but a sticking hook. On Leafa drawing it out, the pain was lost.
 The dragon was very delighted, and said, �gI will realize your prayer.�h Leafa had thought that he would ask the dragon to give him liberty. But he thought, �gIf my prayer would be realized, it is not by my effort. There is only result.�h
 Leafa said, �gNothing.�h �gWhy?�h The dragon said, and asked, �gYou want nothing? I can realize any prayer.�h Leafa answered, �gThe important things is not only the result but what way I walk. I realize it. So I don�ft want to realize any prayer.�h The dragon understood and said, �gIf you want to realize a prayer, come to the fountain with enough things for the prayer.�h
 Then the dragon flew away. Leafa also left for the house.
 After three days�c
 His uncle and aunt heard the story of the dragon�|Leafa talked about it to Cris, and Cris talked about it to them. At first they thought it was like children, and laughed. But they remembered that travelers had said same thing. So they went to the foundation.
�gPlease realize our prayer,�h his uncle said. �hPlease give us a huge sum of money,�h his aunt said. But nothing happened. They were angry and threw a stone into the water. �gYou�fre not so useful!�h They went back home feeling disgusted.
 When they arrived at their house, they were very surprised. The house was much bigger. And there were twelve stores filled with money. �gIs this a dream?�h Asked uncle. �gNo it�fs all ours!�h Aunt answered.
 That day they held a party until late at night. But they forgot that they had to return an equivalent thing with their prayer.
 When they made Leafa buy drinks, it began raining.
 Leafa came back to the house. But the house wasn�ft there. �gDid I mistake the way?�h Leafa thought. But he looked carefully, he understood that the house was washed away! He shuddered. He thought only of Cris.
 Leafa stared running frantically. He cried many times while running. He prayer her life was safe.
 At last Leafa found Cris. But Cris didn�ft say anything. She was dead. Leafa thought that it was a dream. But his sadness and the coldness of her body was actuality.
 Soon he remembered the dragon. He shouldered Cris. And left for the fountain in the mountain.
 When the sun rose, he was at the fountain. �gPlease realize my prayer,�h he shouted. �gRevive her. Instead take my life.�h On saying it, he dove into the foundation. Leafa sank and sank. Before long he noticed that he was wrapped in a warm light.

 After ten years�c Cris had married. There were two children and one boy named Leafa. She spent a fortunate life that was given by one gentle boy.
 By the way, the fountain really exist. But it is not called desire fountain. It is called �gContent life fountain,�h and people in this region, if a child is born, go to this fountain to bless their children.

�\�\Thanks for your reading.