one dark and stormy night a tramp knocked the door of a village and ask for shelter. An old woman answered the door and told the tramp if he wanted he could come in but he must not ask for food because she had no food in the house and also he must not ask for a bed as she has only one where she sleep.He has to sleep on a chair.

He was hungry but he couldn't see he would get any food.He took an old nail out of his pocket.Can you see this nail here?he said.You'd never believe but last night I made a soup by cooking this nail.I still have some to make it tonight.Would you like me to make some nail soup? Nail soup!snorted the old woman. I have never heard a soup like these.Do not talknonsense.But he could see she was curious.All I did was to boil it up in an sausepan.

Well,since we have nothing else to do and I have no food in the house .Perhaps you will be good enough to show me how to do it she said. Do you have a large pot and some water? he asked.Yes said the old woman.She gave a big cooking pot to him and showed him where the water was.She watched as he filled the pot half with water placed it on a stove and dropped the nail.Then he sat down to wait.

Once when the old woman lifted the lid the tramp said last night I needed a little salt and pepper.Do you have any of them?I might have she said and from a cupboard she took out salt and pepper.

The next time when she lifted the lid the tramp said how sad you haven't got half an onion. I think I have said the old woman.She went to a larder to fetch an onion. In a flash she gave some meat to the pot.

Now the soup is ready.The tramp fished the nail out with a spoon before carrying it over to the table.They both had a wonderful meal.They told stories each other,laughed a lot and had a pleasent evening. After that the old woman told the tramp to go and sleep in her bed.The next morning when the tramp left he thanked the old woman for her kindness.