THE BOILED EGGS
CATTLE-DRIVER once undertook to bring a herd of cattle to town, where the animals were to be sold at the market. The way was long and tiresome, and the roads bad, so one evening he resolved upon stopping at an inn to get a good night's rest. He slept well, and before taking leave ate a hearty breakfast of bread and eggs. But as he was about to draw forth his pocket-book for the purpose of paying the sum due the landlord for lodging and meals, the thought struck him that if he made this payment he might run short of money before arriving in town. As such an event was by no means agreeable, he asked the innkeeper to trust him until he returned, in a few days. This favor was readily granted, and so the cattle-driver pursued his way.
Having sold his stock at a good price, on returning home he arrived at the inn, and inquired for his bill, but to his great surprise, the landlord referred him to an immense sheet of paper covered with calculations and numbers: this was the bill, and the amount due was exactly four thousand dollars.
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