No. 3.—The Riddle
In those days there was a rich man. He had an only son, and the mother and the father loved him dearly. He went to school; all that there is in the world, he learned it. One day he arose; took four, five purses of money. Here, there he squandered it. Early next morning he arose again and went to his father. ‘Give me more money.’ He got more money, arose, went; by night he had spent it. Little by little he spent all the money.
And early once more he arose, and says to his father and mother, ‘I want some money.’
‘My child, there is no money left. Would you like the stew-pans? take them, go, sell them, and eat.’
He took and sold them: in a day or two he had spent it.
‘I want some money.’
‘My son, we have no money. Take the clothes, go, sell them.’
In a day or two he had spent that money. He arose, and went to his father, ‘I want some money.’
‘My son, there is no money left us. If you like, sell the house.’
The lad took and sold the house. In a month he had spent the money; no money remained. ‘Father I want some money.’ [[10]]