Fred was a little boy who always did what his mother told him to do, but because he did not “put on his thinking cap” he was called “Foolish Fred.” His mother said: “My son, go to the store and buy me a dozen eggs.”
“Yes, mother,” said Fred, and away he went. He put the eggs in the pockets of his trousers and sat down upon a stone. Of course we know what happened. His mother said:
“My son, you should not have done so; you should have put the eggs in a basket and covered them with cool green leaves.”
Next day his mother sent him to buy some needles. He put them in a basket, and of course we know they did not stay there.
“Mother,” said Fred, “I did just as you told me, but the silly things fell through the basket.”
“Oh, my son!” said his mother, “you should not have done so, you should have stuck the needles in the lapels of your coat.”
Next day Fred went to the store to buy a pound of butter. He stuck the butter carefully in the lapels of his coat; being tired he sat on a stone to rest and fell asleep. His mother threw up her hands when she saw melted butter all over him.
“Mother,” said Fred, “I did just as you told me, but the silly sun shone so hot that the butter melted.”
“My son,” said his mother, “you should have put it in a bucket and put the lid on securely.”