Lenny the Honest Lamb
A moral story that teaches virtues of Honesty
“What if honesty held the power to transform your destiny?” That’s what Lenny, a little lamb with big dreams, was about to discover.
The Hard Life
Lenny was no ordinary lamb. While most animals in the meadow enjoyed carefree days under the sun, Lenny's life was far from easy.
His family often went hungry, struggling to scrape together enough pennies to buy grass or hay.
Lenny’s mother, a gentle ewe with tired eyes and a coat dulled by hardship, worked tirelessly alongside him every day to feed themselves and his two younger siblings.
Lenny was small for his age, he wore a pair of faded gray overalls with patches stitched onto the knees and chest. Still, he carried heavy bundles of sticks and wood from the forest to sell at the market.
The money he earned was little, but he never gave up. His bright blue eyes shone with hope as he dreamed of a better life for his family.
The Golden Discovery
One morning, as sunlight spilled over the meadow like liquid gold, Lenny set out early to gather wood. The dew sparkled on the grass as birds chirped their morning songs. He worked hard, stacking sticks into a bundle almost too heavy for his small frame.
As Lenny trudged along the path, carrying his heavy bundle of sticks toward the market, he spotted Sage coming down the same trail.
Sage, the wise old sheep always carried an air of quiet mystery, he wore a plain white robe, his silver-tipped staff tapping softly against the ground as he walked. Around his neck hung a small leather pouch, its contents unknown but rumored to hold ancient relics or enchanted seeds.
The wise old sheep paused and smiled warmly at him.
“Lenny,” Sage said, “your honest hard work will always bear amazing fruits. Never forget that.”
Lenny nodded shyly, feeling a flicker of pride at Sage’s words. But before he could reply, Sage continued on his way.
Just moments later, something unusual caught his eye near the edge of the path. Nestled in a patch of grass was an apple unlike any he had ever seen—it was made entirely of solid gold! Lenny picked it up carefully with his hooves, marveling at its weight and smooth surface.
He looked around; no one was in sight. Sage had disappeared at the end of the trail. “This must be magical…”
His heart raced as he tucked the golden apple into his wool for safekeeping. With renewed energy, he picked up his bundle of sticks and hurried back toward home.
A Tempting Offer
On his way back to the barn, an idea struck Lenny—what if he sold the golden apple? Surely it was valuable enough to fetch many coins at the market! With that money, he could buy good food and warm hay for his family.
The thought filled him with excitement as he made his way into town. The bustling market square smelled of fresh bread and ripe fruit as vendors called out their wares.
Lenny approached a gold vendor—a stout hyena wearing a brown suit and spectacles—and carefully showed him the apple.
“This… this is worth more coins than you can carry!” exclaimed the Hyena as he examined it closely.
Lenny’s heart raced at the thought of such riches. His family would never go hungry again! But as excitement bubbled inside him, so did doubt. He remembered something his mother always said: “What isn’t yours will never truly bring you happiness.” Torn by unease, Lenny decided not to sell it after all and returned home with the golden apple still tucked safely in his wool.
The Journey to Find Sage
By evening, whispers began spreading across the meadow. Sage, the wise old sheep who occasionally visited their pasture to share stories of virtue and wisdom, had lost something valuable during his recent visit. Though no one knew exactly what it was, animals speculated that it might have been something rare or magical.
When Lenny heard this news, his heart sank. Could it be that this golden apple belonged to Sage? Deep down, he knew what he had to do.
That night, unable to sleep and with hunger gnawing at his belly, Lenny made up his mind—he would return it to Sage no matter what it took.
The path ahead was long and unfamiliar. Sage lived far beyond their meadow on a steep hill surrounded by dense forests and rocky trails. But despite his empty stomach and aching legs from days of hard work hauling wood, he pressed on.
The forest grew darker as thick trees blocked out much of the sunlight.
“I have to keep going,” he whispered to himself each time he stumbled. “This is the right thing to do.”
As hours passed, exhaustion weighed heavily on him. His legs felt like they might give out at any moment, but thoughts of Sage searching for what was lost—and how returning it could help restore peace—kept him moving forward.
Finally, Lenny reached Sage’s hilltop home just as dusk began to fall.
A Surprising Reward
Lenny found Sage resting beneath a grand oak tree near his home. The wise old sheep looked up in surprise when Lenny approached him with trembling legs and lowered eyes.
“I found this golden apple,” Lenny said softly as he placed it before Sage. “I thought about keeping it… even selling it… but I knew deep down it wasn’t mine.”
Sage listened intently before smiling warmly.
“You’ve done something remarkable,” said Sage gently. “Even though you are struggling yourself, you chose truth over greed.”
Sage revealed that he had indeed lost this precious golden apple during his visit to their meadow and had given up hope of ever finding it again.
As a reward for Lenny’s honesty and selflessness, Sage handed him an ordinary-looking seed and instructed him to plant it near his home.
Though puzzled by such a simple gift after all his effort, Lenny followed Sage’s instructions faithfully—and overnight, something incredible happened! By morning, a magnificent tree had grown where Lenny planted the seed. Its branches were full of lush green leaves, and among them hung bright red apples—but one apple glowed brilliantly in gold.
“A golden apple… and so many regular ones too!” he exclaimed, his heart swelling with gratitude.
The golden apple was enough to solve his family’s poverty. With its value, they were able to buy warm hay, plenty of food, and even repair their barn. The regular apples from the tree provides nourishment for seasons to come, easing their daily struggles.
When the next season arrived, Lenny was astonished to find another golden apple growing alongside the regular ones. This time, instead of keeping it for himself, he decided to use it as a symbol of honesty and courage—offering it as a reward to someone in their community who had shown exceptional kindness or integrity.
Through this act, Lenny’s tree became more than just a source of sustenance—it became a beacon of hope and a reminder that honesty and selflessness could transform lives.
Moral of the Story
"What do you think? Did Sage leave the apple to test Lenny’s virtue? Or was it simply fate that brought them together? Perhaps only Sage knows the truth…"
Honesty is always rewarded—sometimes in ways more magical than we can imagine!
Vocabulary
Honesty (on-uh-stee)
Definition: The quality of being truthful and fair.
Example: Lenny’s honesty led him to return the golden apple.
Transform (trans-form)
Definition: To change something completely.
Example: The seed transformed into a magical tree overnight.
Temptation (temp-tay-shun)
Definition: A strong desire to do something wrong or unwise.
Example: Lenny resisted the temptation to sell the golden apple.
Selflessness (self-less-ness)
Definition: Putting others’ needs before your own.
Example: Lenny’s selflessness inspired his community.
Virtue (ver-choo)
Definition: Behavior showing high moral standards.
Example: Sage admired Lenny’s virtue when he returned the apple.
Beacon (bee-kun)
Definition: A symbol or source of guidance or inspiration.
Example: The tree became a beacon of hope for the meadow.
Integrity (in-teg-rih-tee)
Definition: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
Example: Lenny showed integrity by doing what was right despite his struggles.
Thoughts?
What lessons did you take away from Lenny’s journey? Do you believe honesty is always rewarded? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and reflections like this one.