The Three Sluggards
A certain king had three sons who were all
equally dear to him, and he did not know which of them to appoint as his successor after
his own death. When the time came when he was about to die, he summoned them to his
bedside and said, dear children, I have been thinking of something which I will declare
unto you, whichsoever of you is the laziest shall have the kingdom. The eldest said, then,
father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle that if I lie down to rest, and a drop falls
in my eye, I will not open it that I may sleep. The second said, father, the kingdom
belongs to me, for I am so idle that when I am sitting by the fire warming myself, I would
rather let my heel be burnt off than draw back my leg. The third said, father, the kingdom
is mine, for I am so idle that if I were going to be hanged, and had the rope already
round my neck, and any one put a sharp knife into my hand with which I might cut the rope,
I would rather let myself be hanged than raise my hand to the rope. When the father heard
that, he said, you have carried it the farthest, and shall be king.
--The End-- |
