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Since the gold I planted did not grow, I dug it up and bought this with it, plus some work I did for the widow of Maclaister on the hill after the Lord died in the spring."
Merrybell smiled at her foolish husband and her heart felt like breaking, but she asked, "But how does this fulfill the requirement I set for you. Though I would rather have this one ring than all the rubies in the world."

Fingal laughed. "Merrybell, my lover, if you say things like that, then you'll be teaching me how to be a fool, before long! This has been what God taught me to say to you. A ring is a circle laid end on end, and the tree it fits about is the greatest tree of all, the tree of our family. For that tree has roots that go to the beginning and branches that will touch heaven."
Merrybell's mouth opened at her husband's words and she knew not what to say. Her breath came shallow, but she asked a question, almost afraid of the answer she would get. "Fingal, you have been a fool for a long time. But there was a third condition."
Fingal smiled. "Merrybell, my lover, will you remind me of that third requirement?"
"You must get from far away lands pepper enough to spice all the potatoes that you grow in a year."
"Then I tell you true that I have saved enough pennies to buy so much pepper." Fingal the fool of Broken Shield brought out a leather pouch and emptied it into Merrybell's hands. It was a tiny mound of course black pepper, and Merrybell sneezed mightilly at it, which set them both to laughing merrily as Merrybell poured the small amount of pepper back into the pouch.
"Tell me, husband, how this is enough pepper to spice all the potatoes that you grow in a year."
Fingal smiled. "Aye, and that's another thing that God told me when I prayed. I shall not grow any potatoes next year. I have grown potatoes and eaten potatoes enough to satisfy even a fool. And everyone hereabouts grows potatoes, so that I cannot sell what I grow to any profit. So I shall grow barley and rye and wheat next year. And I'll not dig up another potato as long as I live, unless you beg it of me."
"But I have somewhat to ask of you, now, Merrybell. You promised me children enough to fill a village of my own."
Merrybell's smile was genuine and warm. "Oh, Fingal, I shall be ill-used to bear so many children. We shall have to be very busy."
"Aye, there's wisdom in that. But you have started already."
Merrybell laughed. "And how is it you know that afore me?"
Fingal put a finger to the side of his nose. "The wise women and hedge wizards are my friends too, and have told me what you have in your clay pot and put into your tea."
Merrybell blushed. "I thought it best, husband."
Fingal's mouth was set firmly. "Your husband's a fool, but he's still your husband. And I bought of them false unicorn root and damiana. I emptied your clay pot of herbal tea and replaced it with mine, which the wise women and hedge wizards assure me will result in a child soon. And it will be only the first of many, for I have gotten your promise."
Merrybell smiled. Her husband had gotten what he wished, and she thought she could almost feel the new life in her. And she had gotten more than he. She had gotten her gold, and her rubies, and her pepper. And she had discovered that her foolish husband was wiser than she thought.

Learn more about this author, John Devera.
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