The story behind "The Wishing Well"

It is believed that when you toss a coin into a well or fountain, and make a wish, your wish will come true. Many people do this whenever the chance arises. However, very few know why this phenomenon came to be.
Many years ago, before my time of course, there lived a man. Who was incredibly wealthy and along with his wealth, there was also greed. His wife would ask him for a new dress and be told that the one she has was good enough. A beggar on the street would ask him to spare some change and be scowled at, told to get a god damn job. His servants would ask for a raise and consequently their pay would be decreased. There was only one person who was never turned away. This person was only six years old and her name was Penelope. She was the daughter of the wealthy man. Penelope was the complete opposite of her father. Incredibly generous and never turned away someone in need. One time, she gave some beggars her shoes to sell because she had no money when they asked.
Every day after school little Penelope would stop at a fountain. This fountain was hand carved and had 8 flowers that spouted water into a crescent shaped bowl below. The fountain was in a park with well kept grass and popular trees. Along with rose bushes and a stream that ran along the northern edge of the beautiful park. Penelope enjoyed sitting on the edge on the fountain and listening to the birds sing. She was often visited by a homeless man, whom claimed to be a former employee of her father’s that was fired because he did not place the lid back upon the cookie jar. Leaving him with no way to pay the rent, this rendered him homeless. Penelope felt bad for this poor man and gave him her spare change. Her father gave her money every morning so that she could buy chocolate milk at school. Seeing as she always already had a juice box in her lunch kit, Penelope felt there was no need to purchase another beverage. Saving her money for those in need.
These meetings with the homeless man went on for quite a while until one evening her father came into her play room and asked her why she was giving her money away. Penelope explained to him that she was just helping out people in need. Furious, her father said he will no longer give her money for chocolate milk until she smartened up with this nonsense.
“But papa I promise that I will not give my money away no more” exclaimed Penelope. Of course he could not refuse his daughter and the wealthy man forgave her. The next day after school, as usual, she went to that same fountain. Only, instead this time instead of waiting for the homeless man Penelope tossed a handful of coins into the water. She decided to make a wish first, like she does when wishing upon the first star seen at night. Penelope hoped that the homeless man would find the money and use it to buy some food. Penelope hid behind some rose bushes and watched as the homeless man came to the fountain. He looked around for a bit and wondered where the little girl was. The homeless man noticed a silver glint in the water, reached down, and took the change from the water. When the homeless man left, Penelope went back to sit on the ledge of the fountain and listened to the birds sing, Satisfied that she had technically not disobeyed her father’s orders.
This went on for many years as the child grew up. Tossing change into the fountain. Some people questioned her as to why she does it. Worried that if she told the curious people that the money was for a homeless man, they would tell her father Penelope simple said it was good luck to toss a penny and make a wish. Much like wishing on the fist star seen at night. Soon, other people began tossing coins into fountains and making wishes. This phenomena spread all over the world and is still done many generations later.