The Cobbler and His Wife
THE FRYING-PAN
NCE upon a time there lived a cobbler who was very fond of pancakes. His wife did not care for them at all. Every time he dared to mention his favourite dish, she replied:
“But, man, how can I make pancakes? You know quite well we have no frying-pan.”
“Well, borrow one from the neighbour,” he replied one day.
His wife dared not carry her objections any further. She fetched the frying-pan and she fried and fried as though she were frying for the whole village. She fried for so long that the pan became too hot and broke!
Neither of them wanted to return the frying-pan to their neighbour. This led to a dispute, and the little house, which was generally so peaceful, was in an uproar.
The man said that the person who had borrowed the frying-pan should return it.
His wife said that as it was borrowed for his benefit, he should undertake this unpleasant task.