Great Stories of Humor - The Four Young Men (Abridged and Simplified)



Great Stories of Humor - The Four Young Men 
(Abridged and Simplified)

There were four young men in a village. They were clever at telling incredible stories. One-day they saw a traveller in the village rest house. They plotted to take away his fine clothes. So they went to the rest house and started a conversation.
                                           
After a while one of the young men suggested that they all join in a contest. "Let each one of us tell about his most wonderful adventure", he said. "Anyone who doubts the truth of the story will become the slave of the man who tells it".
                                          
The traveller agreed to the idea. The young men smiled to themselves, thinking him to be a fool. He did not look as though he could tell impossible stories. They expected that their own tales would be thoroughly unbelievable. They did not really intend to make the traveller their slave, but merely to claim his clothes, since the property of a slave was the property of his master. So they went to the village and brought back the headman to act as a judge of the contest.
The first young man began his wonderful adventure.
                                     
"Before I was born, my mother asked my father to pick some plums from the tree in front of the house, but my father replied that the tree was too high to climb. My mother asked my brothers, but they gave the same answer. I couldn't bear to see my mother disappointed, so I climbed the tree and picked the plums myself when no one was looking. I left them on the kitchen table. My mother was very pleased".
                                     
The young man looked at the traveller. He hoped that he would express doubt as to the truth of the story. But he merely nodded his head to show that he believed it. The other three also nodded their heads.
                                     
So it was the second young man's turn, and he said: "When I was a one week old child, I took a walk in the forest and saw a large date tree. It was with ripe fruits on it. I was very hungry. So I climbed up the tree swiftly and began eating apples. 

When I had eaten all l could hold, I was so heavy sleepy that I couldn't climb down the tree. So I went back to the village and brought a ladder. I got down the tree using it. If I hadn't found the ladder, I would still be in the date tree".
                                  
He looked at the traveller. He expected to hear some protest. But the traveller merely nodded his head in agreement. The other three young men also nodded their heads. It was the third young man's turn, and he said "When I was a year old, I saw a rabbit running swiftly into the tall grass. I chased it. 

When I caught hold of it, I discovered that what I had been chasing was really a tiger. He opened his mouth to swallow me. I told him this was very unfair because what I was looking for was a rabbit and not a tiger. But he took no notice of my protests and opened his mouth even wider. I became annoyed at his rudeness. So I caught hold of him with my left hand and broke him in two".
                                  
The young man looked at the traveller. He expected that he would deny the truth of the story. But he nodded his head in agreement. So it was the fourth men's turn and he told his story. "Last year I went fishing in a boat, but I couldn't catch a single fish. I asked the other fishermen. They said that they had not caught any fish. 

I decided to see what was the matter at the bottom of the river. I dived out of my boat and swam down. I reached the bottom of the river after three days. I discovered a fish. It was as large as a mountain there. It was eating all the small fish. With a single blow of my fist, I killed the great fish. I roasted it there itself and ate it. Then I floated back up to my boat and went home'.
                                 
The young man looked expectantly at the traveller. He waited for him to laugh at the monstrous tale, or to cry out "Oh, this is unbelievable!" but he merely nodded his head in agreement.
                                 
And then it was the traveller's turn to tell his impossible adventure. He said, "Some years ago I had a farm. There was one fruit tree on my farm. It grew differently from the others. It had four branches and no leaves. On the end of each branch, however, was a single fruit. 

When they were ripe, I picked the four fruits. When I cut them open a young man jumped out of each one of them. They came from my tree. So they were legally my property. I made them my slaves and work in my farm. They were lazy. So they ran away after a few weeks. 

Since that time I have been travelling all over the country looking for them. And I am very gratified that now here in this rest house I have found then at last. Young men, you know very well that you are my runaway slaves. Come back with me to my farm, and don't give me any trouble'. 
                                
The four young men couldn't say a word. They couldn't shake their heads one way or another. They felt embarrassed, for their position was hopeless. If they doubted the story of the traveller, or if they agreed to its truth, they would become the slaves of the traveller.
So they were silent.
                               
The headman of the village asked the four young men if they believed the traveller's story or not. They kept quiet. He asked them again. They would not speak. Once more he asked. They remained mute.
                               
And so the headman declared that the stranger had won the contest. The traveller said to the young men, "Now you are my slaves. Take off your clothes and give them to me. After that I will give you freedom".
                               
The young men took off their clothes and handed over them to the traveller. The traveller tied the clothes in a bundle, put it on his back and went on his journey. But the four clever young men stood naked in the rest house.


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