The Sun and the Wind

To see which was the stronger, the sun and the wind challenged each other to strip the clothes from the first passerby.

The wind puffed with all air in its lungs; but the more it blew the more the man drew his clothes tight around him and, feeling a bit cold, he even pulled on a cloak.

The sun didn't do anything so strenuous; all it did was shine. And gradually the man grew hotter and hotter until he took off all his clothes to go for a swim. Which just goes to show that gentle persuasion is more effective than violence.

Doctor Knowall

There was once a peasant who envied the good life led by doctors, lawyers and notaries. So one fine day he bought himself a wig and a black suit, then he put up on his door a sign saying: 'Doctor Knowall'.

Shortly afterwards, a man went by, who had just been robbed of a large sum of money. 'If he knows all, then he also knows who stole my money,' he thought. So he invited Doctor Knowall to his house for dinner.

When dinner them came round, a servant approached the table with some dishes and the 'doctor' exclaimed, 'Oh good, here's the first.'

What doctor Knowall meant was that the first course was being served, but the servant, who was in fact one of the robbers, thought that he had been found out. Terrified, he rushed back to the the kitchen and said to another servant; 'You go and serve the meal.' The second servant was also the second robber, and when he went into the dining room Doctor Knowall said: 'Oh good, here's the second.' The robbers were frightened out of their wits. All they could think of doing was give back the money. The master of the house rewarded Doctor Knowall handsomely for his skill...... but his greatest reward was the reputation he enjoyed from that day on as an infallible wise man.

The Wagon Driver's Patron

It had been raining and the track had turned into a muddy swamp. All of a sudden, the wagon that was on it got bogged down in a muddy hole, and it was so heavily laden that neither the efforts of the donkey that was pulling it, nor the curses of the man who was driving it, could get it out again.

The wagon driver was furious with the donkey. He shouted insults at it, he yanked it by the bit, he lashed it with his whip, but noting did any good. So he called on his patron saint, and promised to light a candle to him.

'Before you go looking for a candle,' be seemed to hear a voice saying, 'why don't you stop beating the donkey, and go and get some stones to fill in the hole? Unload the wagon, and make it as light as you can. Pick up that broken branch and use it as a lever.'

Scarcely giving a thought to what he was doing, the astonished wagon driver did as he was told. When he had followed all the instructions, he said 'giddyup' to the donkey, and the wagon pulled easily out of the mud.

'A miracle,' shouted the man, covered in perspiration from all his efforts.

'Take notice,' warned the voice of his patron saint, 'this miracle was performed by you. The Lord helps those who held themselves.'

The Fox and the Goat

A thirsty fox was wandering about the countryside looking for water. Eventually he found a well, but the only water was at the bottom. The fox studied the problem and realised that there was a pulley system to bring up the water, one bucket going down causing another bucket to come up. So the fox jumped into the bucket at the top and his weight immediately caused it to drop to the bottom, where he could drink all the water he desired.

However, now he could not get back up, but the fox had long ago realised that the world is full of fools, and a short time later along came a goat, looking for water in the well.

The fox explained the situation and said to the goat, 'Get into the bucket, then you can come down and I can go up.'

'Yes, but what about afterwards?' asked the goat.

'That's even simpler; then you can come up and I'll go down.'

So the goat got into the bucket, and in a moment he was at the bottom of the well, and the fox was at the top. But as soon as he was up, the fox bade farewell to the goat and made to leave.

'Wait a minute,' shouted the goat.

'You promised to get me back up.'

'Who promised?' asked the fox. 'All we did was to discuss the possibilities.'

The Eagle and the Woodcutter

Once, a woodcutter found an eagle which was caught in a trap. He was so taken with the beauty and the majesty of the bird that he let it go free.

Some time later, the woodcutter sat down on a rock on the very top of a steep hill. While he was having his lunch, the eagle dropped like lightning from the sky, and flew away with his hat. The man automatically ran down the hill after the bird, just as the rocks on which he had been sitting gave way with a loud crash.

The grateful eagle had repaid its benefactor.

The Swan and the Goose

A swan and a goose were both sold at the market on the the same day to the same buyer. Then they were taken back to his villa and both put in the lake, the swan to please his eye, and his ears with its legendary song, and the goose to please his stomach eventually with its lovely, tasty meat.

For a long time, the two birds lived very happily together, becoming great friends. They swam about every day in the water and the master and his guests often came by to admire the two animals and feed them tasty morsels.

Nevertheless, the day came when the master ordered that the goose should be roasted for his dinner. The cook went down to the lake to fetch the unwilling guest to the banquet.

By chance that day, the cook was drunk, and instead of taking the goose he took the swan. When the swan the cook's knife coming for its throat, it began to sing its famous last long. The cook was so amazed that he refused to kill the bird.

Which goes to show that anyone who knows how to make good use of words can find a way out of even the most desperate situation.

Stupid Catherine and the Front Door

When Stupid Catherine went out, she often forgot to close the door behind her. One day, she had to go out of the house to take some lunch to her husband, Joseph, who was always telling her: 'Don't forget the door.'

This time, Catherine thought hard, until the answer came to her.

The best way not to forget the door was to take it with her. So she took it off its hinges and heaved it up onto her back. But then, what could she do with the heavy lunch basket?

'I know' she cried. I'll hang it on the door handle, so that the door has to carry it, not me.'