"Oh, there are hundreds of us to do the work," said the people.
"And how long does it take you to complete the task?" asked Jack-John.
"Two or three months only," the people replied.
"Ah, well!" said Jack-John, "what it takes all of you three months to accomplish my good reap-hook will do in one hour's time. A thousand of you working together could not make as much headway. Under its magic touch the grain falls and you have only to bind it."
"What!" they exclaimed, "that little instrument does all the work?"
"Yes, indeed," said Jack-John, "and if you desire it, I will prove it to you instantly."
Thereupon Jack-John made his way to the fields of ripe golden grain, and in a few minutes had cut quantities of it. The spectators were full of admiration. Never had they seen anything so extraordinary; and to these people it was indeed a most marvellous thing for them to see accomplished in a minute the work that would require the efforts of a hundred men from sunrise to sunset. On all sides there were shouts of joy and enthusiasm.
"Oh, the beautiful machine you have there!" the people cried—"the fairy that runs and cuts the grain. What a treasure to him who possesses it!"
"I see that my beautiful reap-hook pleases you," said Jack-John. "How much are you willing to pay for it?"