(no subject)
I was cleaning out my hard drive, and I found some Grimms fairy tales that I thought I would share. Enjoy!!!
AMIN AND THE EGCS
Once upon a time . . . a peasant called Amin lost all his crops from his
miserable little plot in a drought. He decided to seek his fortune in another
village, and off he went on his donkey. On credit, he obtained a dozen
hard-boiled eggs from a merchant for his journey.
Seven years later, Amin returned to his village. This time he was riding a
fine black horse, followed by a servant on a camel laden with gold and silver
coins. Amin had become a rich man and the news of this soon spread through the
village. Straight away, the merchant who had given him the dozen eggs on
credit knocked at Amin's door, asking for five hundred silver pieces in
payment of the old debt. Amin of course refused to pay such a large sum and
the matter was taken before the judge.
On the day of the hearing, the merchant appeared in court at the appointed
time, but of Amin there was no sign. The judge waited impatiently for a
quarter of an hour, and was on the point of adjourning the hearing, when Amin
dashed in, out of breath. At once, the merchant said, in defence of his
demands:
"I asked Amin for payment of five hundred silver coins, because twelve
chickens might have hatched from the eggs he bought from me on credit,
seven years ago. These chickens would have become hens and cockerels; more
eggs would have been laid, these too would have hatched, and so on. After
seven years, I might have had a great flock of fowls!"
"Of course," agreed the judge. "Perfectly right." And turning to Amin with
a hostile air, he ordered: "What have you to say for yourself? And, by the
way, why are you late?" Amin did not turn a halr.
"I had a plate of boiled beans in the house and I planted them in the
garden to have a good crop next year!"
"Fool!" exclaimed the judge. "Since when do boiled beans grow?" To which
Amin promptly retorted:
"And since when do boiled eggs hatch into chickens?"
He had won his case.
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
Once upon a time . . . a farmer and his son went to market to sell a
donkey. However, they loaded the beast into the wheelbarrow, so that it would
not reach market tired and worn out, and pushed it along the road. When people
saw such a peculiar sight, they loudly remarked: "That man is mad! Whoever saw
a donkey being taken to market in a wheelbarrow!"
The poor farmer became more and more confused, for the farther he went, the
louder the comments became and the more people gossiped. It was the last straw
when, as they passed the blacksmith's forge, the smith jeeringly asked the
farmer if he wanted shoeing, since he was doing the donkey work! So the farmer
stopped, heaved the animal out of the wheelbarrow and climbed onto its back,
while his son walked behind.
But that made matters even worse!
A group of women going home from market instantly complained: "You cruel
man! Fancy a great lump like you riding a donkey, while your poor little boy
runs along behind! You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"
People heaped insult upon insult, till the unhappy farmer slid off the
donkey . He simply did not know what to do next. He took off his cap and
mopped his brow.
"Whew!" he exclaimed. "I never imagined it could be so difficult to take a
donkey to market."
Then he hoisted his little boy onto the donkey and walked along behind.
This time, a cluster of men began to protest.
"Look at that! There's a young lad sitting pretty as you please , on top of
a donkey, while his weary old father has to go on foot!" "It's a disgrace."
Once again, father and son came to a halt. How on earth could they stop
people from criticizing everything they did? Well, in the end, they both got
on the donkey.
"What heartless folk!" exclaimed the passers-by. "Two riders on one little
donkey!" But by now the farmer had lost his patience. He gave the donkey a
terrible kick, saying:
"Giddy up! From now on, I'll do things my way, and pay no attention to what
other people think!"
AMIN AND THE EGCS
Once upon a time . . . a peasant called Amin lost all his crops from his
miserable little plot in a drought. He decided to seek his fortune in another
village, and off he went on his donkey. On credit, he obtained a dozen
hard-boiled eggs from a merchant for his journey.
Seven years later, Amin returned to his village. This time he was riding a
fine black horse, followed by a servant on a camel laden with gold and silver
coins. Amin had become a rich man and the news of this soon spread through the
village. Straight away, the merchant who had given him the dozen eggs on
credit knocked at Amin's door, asking for five hundred silver pieces in
payment of the old debt. Amin of course refused to pay such a large sum and
the matter was taken before the judge.
On the day of the hearing, the merchant appeared in court at the appointed
time, but of Amin there was no sign. The judge waited impatiently for a
quarter of an hour, and was on the point of adjourning the hearing, when Amin
dashed in, out of breath. At once, the merchant said, in defence of his
demands:
"I asked Amin for payment of five hundred silver coins, because twelve
chickens might have hatched from the eggs he bought from me on credit,
seven years ago. These chickens would have become hens and cockerels; more
eggs would have been laid, these too would have hatched, and so on. After
seven years, I might have had a great flock of fowls!"
"Of course," agreed the judge. "Perfectly right." And turning to Amin with
a hostile air, he ordered: "What have you to say for yourself? And, by the
way, why are you late?" Amin did not turn a halr.
"I had a plate of boiled beans in the house and I planted them in the
garden to have a good crop next year!"
"Fool!" exclaimed the judge. "Since when do boiled beans grow?" To which
Amin promptly retorted:
"And since when do boiled eggs hatch into chickens?"
He had won his case.
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
Once upon a time . . . a farmer and his son went to market to sell a
donkey. However, they loaded the beast into the wheelbarrow, so that it would
not reach market tired and worn out, and pushed it along the road. When people
saw such a peculiar sight, they loudly remarked: "That man is mad! Whoever saw
a donkey being taken to market in a wheelbarrow!"
The poor farmer became more and more confused, for the farther he went, the
louder the comments became and the more people gossiped. It was the last straw
when, as they passed the blacksmith's forge, the smith jeeringly asked the
farmer if he wanted shoeing, since he was doing the donkey work! So the farmer
stopped, heaved the animal out of the wheelbarrow and climbed onto its back,
while his son walked behind.
But that made matters even worse!
A group of women going home from market instantly complained: "You cruel
man! Fancy a great lump like you riding a donkey, while your poor little boy
runs along behind! You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"
People heaped insult upon insult, till the unhappy farmer slid off the
donkey . He simply did not know what to do next. He took off his cap and
mopped his brow.
"Whew!" he exclaimed. "I never imagined it could be so difficult to take a
donkey to market."
Then he hoisted his little boy onto the donkey and walked along behind.
This time, a cluster of men began to protest.
"Look at that! There's a young lad sitting pretty as you please , on top of
a donkey, while his weary old father has to go on foot!" "It's a disgrace."
Once again, father and son came to a halt. How on earth could they stop
people from criticizing everything they did? Well, in the end, they both got
on the donkey.
"What heartless folk!" exclaimed the passers-by. "Two riders on one little
donkey!" But by now the farmer had lost his patience. He gave the donkey a
terrible kick, saying:
"Giddy up! From now on, I'll do things my way, and pay no attention to what
other people think!"