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Lang, Andrew, 1844-1912

"The Yellow Fairy Book"

'It will scarcely be enough for
me, I'm so hungry.'
So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told
to take back word to the King that his orders should be obeyed.
Then twelve roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought
alongside of the ship, and at one sitting the glutton had
devoured it all.
'I call that a small meal,' he said. 'I wish they'd brought me
some more.'
Next, the King ordered that forty casks of wine, containing forty
gallons each, were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton
and his party. When these words were overheard by the
sharp-eared comrade and repeated to the Simpleton, he was in
despair.
'Alas, alas!' he exclaimed; 'what is to be done? It would take
us a year, possibly our whole lives, to drink so much,'
'Never fear,' said his thirsty comrade. 'I'll drink it all up at
a gulp, see if I don't.' And sure enough, when the forty casks
of wine containing forty gallons each were brought alongside of
the ship, they disappeared down the thirsty comrade's throat in
no time; and when they were empty he remarked:
'Why, I'm still thirsty. I should have been glad of two more
casks.


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