Hi, Rebecca Shear here. Before we get to our story, exciting news.
Circle Round is going back on tour. with live recordings across the united states our first stop Sunday, October 5th in Parker, Colorado at the Pace Center.
And Circle Round Club members are invited to a special post-show meet and greet with me and composer Eric Shimalonis.
Get your tickets at wbur.org slash circle around and click on events.
We're announcing more tour stops soon, so stay tuned.
We look forward to circling around with you live.
WBUR podcasts, Boston. What comes to mind when you hear the word wealth?
Wealth can, of course, be something you measure in dollars and cents.
But you can also be wealthy in love, luck, or in the case of a man we're about to meet, smarts.
¶¶ I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today our story is called Poor, Rich. Versions of this tale originally come from the Eastern European country, of Ukraine.
Some really great people came together to bring you our folktale, including Broadway veterans Michael Cerveris and Patrick Page.
Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris also fronts the band Loose Kettle.
Their latest album, Heavy Lifting, is out now.
Tony Award nominee Patrick Page is currently starring in Hadestown on Broadway.
You grown-ups can check out both Michael and Patrick in the HBO drama series The Gilded Age.
So circle around, everyone. for poor, rich.
Once upon a time, there was a land full of lush and fertile fields.
And a great deal of those lush and fertile fields were owned by a landlord. a very rich landlord who hired hundreds of local villagers to work his land.
The landlord was every bit as pompous as he was prosperous.
His snobbery was deeper than his pockets.
And given the fortune he owned, those pockets were very deep.
Oh, look at those villagers who work my land with their shabby clothing and ramshackle houses.
I should thank my lucky stars I wasn't born a mere peasant like they were.
The landlord was so disdainful of the villagers that he never talked to them.
He never even went near them. He stayed far, far away, doing whatever it is that wealthy landlords do all day.
Meanwhile, down in the lush and fertile fields, the villagers had no shortage of curiosity about their boss.
Naturally, they had never met him, though some claimed to have caught a glimpse.
I saw the landlord when I was carrying a sack of vegetables to his cellar.
He was up in his mansion, sitting at a great big desk in the great big window of a great big study.
I'm pretty sure he was counting a great big chest full of gold coins.
Well, when I saw the landlord, I was walking to the well to get a drink of water. peeked through the garden wall and there he was lounging beneath the cherry tree and eating Oysters and caviar, all the silver bladder.
Well, when I saw the landlord... He was on the grounds behind his mansion.
He had this snooty smile on his face as he galloped up and down the hills on a great big horse.
A great big high horse, you mean. It's unbelievable how snobbish that man is. wanting nothing to do with us villagers.
And so greedy, too. As the villagers chatted on, one man did not join in the conversation.
He was perhaps the cleverest villager of the bunch, but he was also the poorest.
His name was Rich. You've been awfully quiet, Rich.
Have you no landlord sightings to report?
Actually... Rich shrugged his shoulders.
I haven't. Not yet, anyway. Well, he's an elusive creature, that landlord is.
Goodness knows he stays as far away from us mere peasants as possible.
I'd hand over my prize cow to any villager who could finagle their way into the landlord's mansion and sit down with him for a meal.
Oh yeah? Well, I bet my goat that none of us can.
I'd bet my donkey. And I'd add in my whole flock of chickens.
Because it's never going to happen. No, never.
Forget it. Yep. No way. No way. On the outside, Rich remained silent and still.
But on the inside, his mind was whirling and spinning.
At last, the clever fellow spoke up. You know, I'll bet I could do it.
Uh, come again? Are you serious? Are you saying that you could...
Actually finagle my way into the landlord's mansion and sit down with him for a meal?
Yes, that's precisely what I'm saying. The villagers were silent for a moment, and then...
They doubled up with laughter. Come now, Ray.
You honestly think you could do lunch with the landlord?
In his fancy schmancy mansion? The moment he sees you, he'll order his servants to...
Throw you out. You'll lose your job. And lose your lunch.
Literally. Fine, go ahead, laugh. but you won't be laughing once I waltz home with your cow and your goat.
And your donkey. And your flock of chickens.
No, you won't be laughing then. Hold on a minute.
You're being serious, aren't you? Serious as can be.
But what if you don't have lunch with the landlord?
If I don't have lunch with the landlord... then I will give you everything I own.
It isn't much, but it will be yours. The villagers exchanged a look and a shrug.
And then... All right, Rich. You have yourself a deal.
But you'd better get your stuff ready. Because when the landlord's servants throw you out...
All of it will be ours. What do you think will happen next?
Will poor Rich find a clever way to dine with the landlord?
We'll find out after a quick break. Support for Circle Round comes from Indeed.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear.
Today our story is called Poor, Rich, and Poor.
Before the break, a clever but poor man named Rich took his fellow villagers up on a bet.
If he could finagle his way into the landlord's house and have lunch with him, He would get their cow, goat, donkey and chickens.
If he failed, he must give them everything he owned.
So the following day, an hour before lunchtime, Rich strolled over to the landlord's palatial mansion and rang the bell.
Yes? How may I? The landlord's butler stopped short. when he saw the poor man standing before him, dressed in rags.
You must leave at once, sir. The landlord wants nothing to do with you villagers.
I understand that. But will you please...
Please tell the landlord that I have a very pressing question for him.
It involves... Rich looked both ways, then leaned in closer.
Gold. Gold, you say? Well, goodness knows the landlord is very interested in gold.
But why don't you just tell me your question, and I'll pass it on.
Oh, but this question is for the landlord's ears alone.
Trust me, he'll want to hear this. The butler bit his lip and twiddled his fingers.
Oh, all right. I'll tell the landlord you have a pressing question about gold.
Wait here. The butler scurried over to the landlord, who was sitting at a great big desk in the great big window of a great big study. counting a great big chest full of gold coins.
7,844. 7,845. 7,846. My lord. 7,848, my lord.
Oh, wait a minute. Or was it 7,847? Oh, look what you made me do.
I lost count. I'm sorry, my lord, but I come bearing a message.
I hope. It's an important message. You know how much I love counting my gold coins.
"'almost as much as I love lounging beneath a cherry tree.' and eating oysters and caviar off a silver platter.
Galloping up and down the hills on my great big horse.
I know that, my lord, but this message, it involves a question about gold.
At the mere mention of the word gold, the landlord's ears perked up.
Gold? Why didn't you say so? Tell me more.
Well, my lord, a man is here with a pressing question about gold.
He requests that you see him. The landlord's mind was racing. pressing question?
About gold? Perhaps this The man, whoever he was, knew some way the landlord could get more gold and get even richer.
Hmm. Very well then. I'll hear this fellow out.
Send him in. Yes, sir. When the butler ushered Rich into the great big study, the landlord wrinkled his nose.
I didn't realize you were a peasant. What...
Impressing question about gold could a peasant possibly have for a wealthy man like me?
With all due respect, sir, my question is for your ears only.
May I have the honor of speaking with you alone?
The landlord felt a rush of annoyance, but he also felt a rush of curiosity.
He waved his hand and dismissed the butler from the room.
Once Rich and the landlord were all alone.
The clever villager took a deep breath. Good sir, I truly appreciate you seeing me.
Because for weeks now, I've been wanting to ask you, what would you pay? for a piece of gold as large as the largest pumpkin.
The landlord blinked his eyes. Had he heard right?
A piece of gold as large as the largest pumpkin?
The way pumpkins grew in his lush and fertile fields, the largest pumpkin could be the size of a pony.
Why do you ask me this question, peasant?
Rich arched his eyebrows in a mysterious way.
Oh, I have my reasons. Now the landlord was more curious than ever.
Had this bedraggled peasant stumbled upon some buried treasure?
Did he actually have a piece of gold as large as the largest pumpkin?
And was it for sale? If so, surely the landlord could talk him down to a reasonable price.
After all, how clever could a mere... Listen.
Friend, it isn't every day that you find a piece of gold as large as the largest pumpkin.
In fact... It isn't any day that you find such a thing.
So why are you asking me this question? Rich slumped his shoulders.
This is what I feared would happen. You won't give me an answer, so I'll have to go consult someone else.
Now if you'll excuse me, I must go home.
My dear mother will have lunch waiting for me.
Now the landlord was burning with curiosity and with desire. desire for this mysterious pumpkin-sized piece of gold.
Surely he couldn't let this peasant go now.
Friends! my dear, dear friend. Why hurry home for lunch when you can join me here at my mansion?
Join you? For lunch? Here at your mansion?
But of course, I'll have my chefs prepare the finest dishes and serve the finest wine.
A guest like you deserves no less. Now come, join me in my dining room.
Before Rich knew it, he was sitting at one end of the landlord's gleaming mahogany table in the dining room. feasting on the most delectable foods he had ever eaten in his entire life.
Have some more lobster, my friend. Oh, and filet mignon.
And please drink till you've had your fill.
Waiters! More wine, please. Oh, no, no, no.
Champagne. Rich ate and ate and drank and drank.
Once he was certain his belly couldn't hold anything else, He sat back in his chair with a contented sigh.
Oh, this meal was exquisite, sir. "'So exquisite that I stuffed myself, silly!' and I couldn't possibly finish everything on my plate.
Mind if I take the rest home to Mother? The landlord smiled.
I don't mind at all. Waiters! One doggy bag, please.
As a team of waist-coated waiters whisked away Rich's plate and packed up his leftovers, the landlord leaned forward. put his elbows on the table, and clasped his hands together.
So, my friend, now that our lunch is over, let's talk about that...
Piece of gold as large as the largest pumpkin.
What do you say I send you home with a carriage, you bring the gold back to my mansion, and I tell you its price?
Just then, the waiters returned with Rich's leftovers.
He gave a nod of thanks and rose to his feet.
Oh, I'm afraid that won't be possible, sir.
Now the landlord rose to his feet, or leaped to them, more like.
Won't be possible. Whatever do you mean?
Why can't you bring me the gold? Well, Rich shrugged, because I don't have it.
You don't have the gold. Then why the dickens did you want to know its price?
Rich shrugged again. because I was curious.
I mean, like you said, it isn't every day that you find a piece of gold as large as the largest In fact, it isn't any day that you find such a thing.
But in the off chance that I did—the very off chance—
I was curious what the price might be. The landlord froze.
He clenched his fists, he tensed his jaw, and then he exploded in fury.
Listen to me, you peasant! I order you to get out of my mansion now!
I have neither the time nor patience for a fool like you.
So go! But Rich did not go. A fool like me, you say.
You have neither time nor patience for a fool like me, oh.
I believe I am anything but a fool. Good sir, would a fool have finagled his way into his boss's mansion? would a fool have gotten himself invited over for lunch, complete with the finest dishes and the finest wine.
And would a fool have just won a cow, a goat, a donkey, and a flock of chickens for succeeding and all of the above.
I think not, good sir. I think not. Then, with his head held high, Rich waltzed out of the landlord's mansion, a grin on his face, a doggy bag in his hand, as proof of his triumph to show the other villagers.
In the end, rich never did get rich. Not money-wise, anyway.
But from that day forward, his fellow villagers all knew that when it came to cunning, and smarts.
Poor Rich was the richest one of all. MUSIC PLAYS
Now it's your turn. What's something that you're rich in?
Is it hugs from family members? High fives from friends?
Whatever it is, find a piece of paper and draw a picture of you and whatever it is that you're rich in.
Then, if you're up for it, share your picture with us.
Have a grown-up snap a photo of you and your drawing, then email it to Thank you.
Woohoo! This week's story, Poor Rich, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Circle Round's supervising producer, Anne-Marie Severson.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
Our artist is Sabina Han. Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for every Circle Round story, and you can color them in.
Grown-ups, you can print out more than 160 coloring pages on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.
Special thanks to this week's actors.
Patrick Page. Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris also fronts the band Loose Kettle.
Their latest album, Heavy Lifting, is out now.
Tony Award nominee Patrick Page is currently starring in Hadestown on Broadway.
You grown-ups can check out both Michael and Patrick in the HBO drama series The Gilded Age.
Season two starts filming soon. Our featured instrument this week was the bandura, To learn more about this plucked string instrument, often considered to be the national instrument of Ukraine, and to see a video of it being played, visit our website.
Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.
Want to help us spread the Circle Round word?
Please give us a five-star review on your favorite podcast app And tell your friends to follow us wherever they get their podcasts.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
One of the best things about creating Circle Round is hearing from listeners like you.
Circle Round fans have been telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories, and we're excited to share some of their voices. with you.
Hi, my name is Rhea. I'm from Seattle, Washington.
And my favorite Circle Round story is The Woman in the Moon.
I like the part where the woman finds the stars and I think that that's funny because she doesn't know that they're working.
Hello, my name is Alcyone. I live in Antonidas, California.
And my favorite story is the basilisk story. because I like the part when Natalia brings all of the people to life. and she gets her little brother back.
My name is Adam and I'm from Yorktown, Virginia.
And my favorite Circle Round story is the laughing canoe because I like the part when the canoe does all the jokes.
Hi, my name is Nina and I'm from Greenwood Lake, New York.
My favorite Chick-fil-A story is latch keys do and I like the part when the neighbors throw lots of different foods into the pot.
My name is Diego. I live in Greenwood Lake, New York.
And my favorite circle on story is the fantastic riddle, I like the part when Pablo plays the fiddle and all the people get up and dance.
Hi, my name is Evan and I live in Maryland.
My favorite trickle around story is plowing the roads.
No problem. You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
That's wbur.org slash circleround, or wherever you and your grown-ups get your podcasts.
