User:Bhit098/sandbox

THE King`s Wager

A long time ago there lived a king who thought himself very clever.He felt he could win any wager he made.One day the king made an announcement to his subjects.He offered half his kingdom to anyone who could tell a lie,which he would have to admit was an untruth. The first on to try was a shepherd.He presented himself before the king and said:Your Majesty,my grandfather had a long staff.He would use it to tickle the stars in the sky. Rubbish!that's not impossible! said the king.My grandfather had a long pipe,which he would light by reaching the sun. Seeing that he had lost the shepherd went disappointed.The next on to try was a tailor.He presented himself before the king and said:Your majesty,last night there was a great storm.Thunder and lightning ripped open the sky and it rained in torrents.As a result,all this morning I've been busy with my needle and thread mending the huge hole in the heavens. That's nonsense!said the king.You haven't done your job very well, for about half an hour ago it rained again. Seeing that he had failed, the tailor, too, went away quite sad.The third one to try was a peasant.He presented himself before the king and said:Your Majesty please return me that bag of gold which I lent you last week.'' A bag of gold which I lent you last week!cried the king,in both amazement and anger .''Why this is a lie! how dare you tell such an untruth!.''  Your Majesty, if this is an untruth , said the peasant cunningly, then you must give me half of your kingdom, as promised.Needless to say, the peasant went away delighted at his good fortune.After all, in a way, he had won the wager.