An old street lamp lit the streets for many years. Now, it had grown old, and it was time for it to retire.
The lamp thought sadly, ‘If the mayor orders to melt me down, I’ll be separated from the watchman and his wife. They loved me so much and looked after me so well.’
Suddenly, the wind blew in the ear of the lamp and asked, “Do I hear right? Are you going tomorrow?” The lamp nodded, “Yes.”
The wind looked towards the sky and asked the moon, “Do you have any gift for the lamp?” The moon rudely replied, “I don’t have any gifts. No lamp gave me any light.”
The wind said, “Never mind! I have a magical gift for the lamp.” He then turned towards the lamp and said, “I will blow into your head and you will recall all your memories.”
Suddenly, a shooting star fell on the lamp. Seeing this, the wind exclaimed, “Look! The star has blessed you. All your wishes will come true. Ask for all that you want.” The lamp dazzled brightly with joy and said, “Thank you, star! Since the day I’ve been hung on the street, the watchman and his wife have taken care of me. The watchman never forgot to light me. His wife oiled me and cleaned me. Now, they have also grown old just like me. I wish to spend the rest of my days in the watchman’s house in peace.”
The wish of the lamp was granted. The next morning, the watchman requested the mayor, “Sir, this lamp is like my child. I have taken care of it since the time it was first hung. Please let me keep it.”
The mayor gave away the lamp to the watchman instead of melting it.
The watchman and his wife lived in a cellar. They had made it neat, cosy and warm. They hung the lamp near the stove. The lamp was now happy and looked bigger, and brighter than before.
As the couple ate their supper, they looked at the lamp with love and affection. The watchman and his wife remembered the old days they had spent together with the lamp—in rain, fog and snow, on long winter and short summer nights.
Remembering his golden days in the company of people he loved the most, the lamp felt very happy. He thanked the shooting star and the wind for such a wonderful gift.
