18. Why does the old man
most likely take the
bundles of wood in
the first place? Draw
a box around details
that help you find the
answer.
Does the woodcutter
think he and his wife
deserve the old man’s
generosity? Support
your answer with
details in the text.
The woodcutter replied, “My wife and I have no money. We
cut two bundles of firewood each day so that we can sell one at
the market and use the money to buy rice so that we may eat.
We don’t have any money left over after buying rice, but we do
not complain.”
“Ahh,” said the old man with warmth and understanding in
his voice. “I see that you and your wife are hardworking people
and are careful with what little money you do have. You take
care of yourselves without complaining. Therefore, I would
like to offer you a treasure that you can take back to your house
and use to help support and sustain yourself and your wife.”
At that instant, seven fairies came up to the woodcutter
and led him away to a beautiful palace that glowed with gold
and sparkling gems. Inside were many precious objects that
were beyond anything the woodcutter had ever imagined.
One room of the palace was filled entirely with money bags of
different shapes and sizes, all filled to the brim.
“Which one would you like?” a fairy sweetly asked him.
“You are welcome to take whichever you choose.”
The woodcutter could not believe his good luck. With wide
eyes, he carefully studied each bag. At last, the woodcutter’s
eyes rested on the largest moneybag in the room. “I’d like that
one, please, the huge, swollen one over there. That one seems
stuffed with many wonderful things.”
8
9
10
11
12
112 Lesson 5 • Traditional Literature
CC13_ELA_G5_SE_L05_099-122.indd 112 4/30/13 12:39 PM
19. At just that moment, the old man entered the room,
looked angrily at the woodcutter, and told him that he could
not have that particular bag. “You can have this empty one,”
he said. “Each evening you can reach in, and one silver coin
will appear for you to take out. One coin, and no more.” The
woodcutter agreed to take the empty bag, not sure whether
to believe the old man’s words as he looked longingly at the
enormous overstuffed one. Then he took hold of the rope and
was lowered back to his house.
The woodcutter’s wife was thrilled when she heard what
had happened on her husband’s adventure. They would no
longer have to worry about making enough money to buy rice.
Each day, the woodcutter and his wife would rise as usual,
walk up the mountain, collect the firewood for their hut, and
return home at dark. Once home, however, they would reach
into their moneybag. One beautiful silver coin would come
rolling out. Each evening was exactly the same; one coin would
come rolling out, no more, no less. The woodcutter’s wife
carefully collected the silver coins.
One evening, the husband looked at the pile of coins
they had saved. “We should buy an ox,” he suggested, but his
wife did not agree. “We should buy a larger plot of land,” the
woodcutter suggested a few days later, but again, his wife did
not agree. She thought they should save some money in case
they needed it some day.
13
14
15
16
How does the
moneybag work? Draw
a box around details
that help you find the
answer.
How do the woodcutter
and his wife differ
in their thoughts
about the money?
Double underline
the differences and
write them on the
Characters Chart.
Why doesn’t the wife
want to spend the
money on big things
like an ox and land?
The Magic Moneybag 113
CC13_ELA_G5_SE_L05_099-122.indd 113 4/30/13 12:39 PM
26. Compare and
Contrast Characters
How are the
armadillo and the
wizard different
in their thoughts?
Double underline
the difference.
Critical Thinking
Based on what you
learn in the story,
what does it mean to
sacrifice something?
“Do not throw caution to the wind,” replied the wizard.
“I do not want you to make a hasty decision.”
The wizard and the armadillo talked it over for a long time.
The wizard did not feel right about taking the armadillo’s life,
but the armadillo finally convinced him with his passion for
music and his insistence. The wizard killed the armadillo. He
made an incredible instrument from the armadillo’s shell and
some strings, which when plucked, made the most beautiful
sound. The wizard presented it to the best musician in town.
Sometimes, the musician would play the instrument near the
pond where the frogs lived. They would look with wide eyes
and croak, “Look at that. The armadillo can make music.”
Sometimes, the musician would play the instrument near
the crickets’ house. They would look with wide eyes and chirp,
“Look at that. The armadillo can make music.”
And sometimes, the musician would play the instrument
for his friend who owned the canaries. The tweeting canaries
would just look on and say, “Look at that. The armadillo can
make music.”
And that is how it happened. The armadillo could finally
sing, just as he had always longed to do. The sounds of the
instrument were the most beautiful in all the land. But, like
many of the great artists of the world, he made great sacrifices
for the sake of his art.
15
16
17
18
19
120 Lesson 5 • Traditional Literature
CC13_ELA_G5_SE_L05_099-122.indd 120 4/30/13 12:39 PM