King Maximilian of Bavaria was one day walking in the open fields. As the weather was warm he sat down under a tree to rest. The king took a book out of his pocket and began to read. Soon he began to nod, and before long he was fast asleep.
When he woke up it was past noon, so he arose hastily and started for town. After he had gone about a mile he felt for his book and found that he had left it under the tree where he had been asleep.
As he started back to get the book he saw a little barefooted boy in a field nearby watching a flock of geese. The king went to the boy and holding out a piece of money, said, “My boy, if you will run back to the big tree a mile down the road and get my book, I will give you this gold piece.”
The boy wanted the gold piece very much, but he shook his head. “I should like to go for the book, but the geese will run away and then I shall be punished by my master,” said he.
“Oh, I will look after the geese while you are gone,” said the king. At this the boy laughed, for the man was fat and looked as if he could not manage even one goose, to say nothing of a flock of geese.
“Give me the whip, and let me try,” said the king, “while you run along and get my book. Here, take the gold piece first, and be quick.” Then the king took the whip and tossed the boy the money, who ran off down the road, while the king settled down to watch the geese.
All went well for a while until one old gander looked up and saw a strange face near. At this he gave a loud cackle and flew over the ditch. The others looked up and began to cackle and complain as if they missed the little boy. Then some flew one way and some flew another. Across the meadow they ran, the king after them. He cracked his whip and tried to head them off, but it was of no use. Then he sat down to wipe his face.
Soon the boy came back and seeing the scattered geese, he cried out, “Just as I thought. You know nothing about geese, and now we have got to get them together.”
So the king went around the field helping the boy, and with a great deal of shouting and scolding the geese were all gathered together again. Then Maximilian said, “You see, my boy, I am a king and I am not used to such work as this. The geese got away from me before I knew it.”