A wanderer came upon a small village, intending to seek shelter for the night. The villagers were very poor and suggested he keep moving because there was no food to spare. The wanderer wasn't the least bit concerned, and offered to make stone soup for everyone. As the villagers gathered, he built a fire and filled his huge pot with water. Everyone watched in amazement as he took a velvet bag from his pocket, removed a well-polished stone and ceremoniously dropped it into the boiling water. The stranger explained that the soup would be a bit thin as the stone was getting so old, but a few potatoes would give the soup more body. As one villager eagerly produced the potatoes, the wanderer mentioned that the king often eats stone soup with a bit of meat added. Another villager rushed home for some dried beef, anxious to taste this soup fit for a king. As the pot boiled, and the wanderer continued explaining ways to make the soup even better, the pot was soon filled with carrots, onions, cabbage, corn, mushrooms, herbs and spices. Years later, the villagers still spoke of the wondrous stone that made such delicious soup.