  Once on a time, long, long ago, in a far-off foreign land, A certain king who loved to roam with his chosen courtly band, Was riding abroad one early morn through streets of a city fair When a curious sign above a door caused him to pause and stare. This sign board plainly read to all that here was Wisdom's college With a Professor at its head of UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE. "Ha! Ha!" loud laughed the wily king while rapping on the door, "'Tis true above all other men I need a goodly store Of UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE so that I may wisely rule And never say a foolish thing nor act the silly fool." With trembling hands and downcast eyes, while bowing to the floor The king gazed at the coward and this is what he said, "You answer my three questions or you will lose your head. Now first since you know everything please tell me what I'm worth, And second tell the number of baskets of good earth That one may find by digging within that mountain there Reaching with its snow capped crown away up in the air. And when you've rightly answered these questions given you Then you must tell me of my thoughts to prove your wisdom true. Three days is all I'll give you to answer me or go To realms where wisdom surely dwells and something you must know." And then the King departed and left the wise man sad, But given him the swelled head so foolishly he thought Through painted signs of wisdom his knowledge would be sought. And as this foolish wise man bemoaned his coming doom, His good but unlearned servant walked into the room, And told his master not to mourn as he would take his place And answer the King's questions while gazing in his face. So when three days had passed away the Royal Master came And Jim the servant greeted him as if he were the same As he himself or any man who lived upon the earth, And to the world's good Mother Earth was debtor for his birth. Then spake this servant to the King—"I'm glad my Sire to see And now with pleasure I'll proceed to answer questions three. You're worth how much—not surely more than one wee bit of gold And as to baskets of good earth in yonder mountain high Think not your foolish question has made me sleepless lie. It doesn't even take a man who could be called quite wise To tell you that this all depends upon the basket's size. For if the basket's mountain size of course but one will do But if it's only half as large then we must needs have two." Delighted with these answers the King shook Jim's rough hand, While smiling as he looked at him and gave his last command, "Now tell me what I'm thinking of, you wizard of the earth, And if you answer truly, yours is this pearl of worth." "Oh, that is very simple," Jim quickly answered him, "You think me the professor, but I'm his servant Jim." This answer was so pleasing unto the mighty King, |
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