Simple Simon went to work
INDU K. MALLAH
|
Have you heard of anyone being paid a lump of gold for a day's work?
|
While trickster-tales and tales about clever people are popular, stories about simpletons, or foolish people, are equally about young people. Here is one such story from England, about a boy called Simon, whom people called Simple Simon because of his simple ways. (Perhaps he was the same Simon, who in the nursery rhyme met the pie man, and asked to taste his ware).
Simon lived with his mother in a remote corner of England. Since his father was dead, his poor mother had to work hard to feed and clothe her son and herself. When Simon was old enough to work, she sent him to work under a kind old gentleman who rewarded Simon for good service with a large piece of gold. Simon carried the gold in his hands and walked homewards. But the sun was hot and Simon was tired.
More exchanges
By and by, he came upon a man riding a horse. Thinking he could reach home sooner on a horse, he exchanged the gold for the horse. But as soon as he tried to mount it, it kicked him, and tried to run away. Simon caught it in time and dragged it along till he came upon a farmer with a cow.
Simple Simon decided to exchange the horse for the cow, as cows do not kick.
But when he tried to milk the cow, the cow refused to give any; a man taking his pig to the market persuaded Simon to exchange his cow for the pig, which Simon gladly did.
But the pig decided to go in the opposite direction.
So when a man with a goose under his arm passed by, Simon decided to exchange the pig for the goose, and walked homewards.
When he was nearing home, he chanced upon a man with a grindstone who said to Simon: "The goose is only a common bird; not everyone owns a grindstone." So Simon exchanged the goose for the grindstone. But he found it was heavier than the gold. So he threw it into the well outside his house, and went home, lighter in body and mind, to his old mother.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
