“C-r-r-rack!” groaned the egg-shell, as the wheels of a cart passed over it.
“Gracious heavens! how it presses!” gasped the Darning-needle. “I do believe I am going to be seasick, after all. I shall break!”
But, although the heavy cart rolled over it, it did not break, only lay stretched full length in the mud, and there it may stay, for there is no more of its story worth listening to.
Hans Christian Andersen.
Master of All Masters
A girl once went to the fair to hire herself for a servant. At last a funny-looking old gentleman engaged her, and took her home to his house. When she got there, he told her that he had something to teach her, for that in his house he had his own names for things.
He said to her: “What will you call me?”
“Master or mister, or whatever you please, sir,” says she.
He said: “You must call me ‘Master of all Masters.’ And what would you call this?” pointing to his bed.
“Bed or couch, or whatever you please, sir.”