In L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Pump," a kind but impoverished farmer's wife helps a talking beetle, who is secretly the King of Insects. As a reward, the beetle instructs the couple to install a pump in their dry well, which then miraculously produces gold coins – lost money gathered by the insects. Initially grateful, the couple's sudden wealth leads to excessive pride and foolishly conspicuous displays of their riches. This ostentation attracts robbers who steal their entire treasure, and they discover the pump yields no more gold. The beetle ultimately points out their folly, reminding them that their pride led to their loss and that the value of honest hard work remains, a possession no one can steal.

In L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Pump," a kind but impoverished farmer's wife helps a talking beetle, who is secretly the King of Insects. As a reward, the beetle instructs the couple to install a pump in their dry well, which then miraculously...

The Wonderful Pump | L. Frank Baum Stories