The stone-cutter, who went every day to a great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for gravestones or for houses, was content with his work. One day, he saw the wealth of a rich man's house and wished to become rich himself. His wish was granted and he became a rich man living in a palace. 

Feeling the heat one day, he wished to be a prince riding in a carriage with a golden umbrella. This wish was also granted by the mountain spirit, and he became a prince with servants, a carriage, and all the luxuries. However, he found that even as a prince, he couldn't control the power of the sun. In frustration, he wished to become the sun itself.And the mountain spirit answered: "Your wish is heard; the sun you shall be." And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot his beams above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the grass in the fields and scorched the faces of princes as well as of poorer folk. But in a short time he began to grow tired of his might, for there seemed nothing left for him to do. Discontent once more filled his soul, and when a cloud covered his face, and hid the earth from him he cried in his anger: "Does the cloud hold captive my rays, and is it mightier than I? Oh, that I were a cloud, and mightier than any!" And the mountain spirit answered: "Your wish is heard; a cloud you shall be!" And a cloud he was, and lay between the sun and the earth. He caught the sun's beams and held them, and to his joy the earth grew green again and flowers blossomed. But that was not enough for him, and for days and weeks he poured forth rain till the rivers overflowed their banks and the crops of rice stood in water. Towns and villages were destroyed by the power of the rain, only the great rock on the mountainside remained unmoved. The cloud was amazed at the sight, and cried in wonder: "Is the rock, then, mightier than I? Oh, if I were only the rock!" And the mountain spirit answered: "Your wish is heard; the rock you shall be!" And the rock he was, and glorified in his power. Proudly he stood, and neither the heat of the sun nor the force of the rain could move him. "This is better than all!" he said to himself. But one day he heard a strange noise at his feet, and when he looked down to see what it could be, he saw a stone-cutter driving tools into his surface. Even while he looked a trembling feeling ran all through him, and a great block broke off and fell upon the ground. Then he cried in his wrath: "Is a mere child of earth mightier than a rock? Oh, if I were only a man!" And the mountain spirit answered: "Your wish is heard. A man once more you shall be!" And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at his trade of stone-cutting. 

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