Hungarian Tale: It's Not True

Once upon a time there was a Hungarian princess who was very beautiful. One day she announced that she would only marrythe man who could tell her father, the king, a story which hecould not believe. Now, in a village there dwelt a poor youngpeasant, who, hearing of this proclamation, went up to theking's palace, and loudly knocking at the gates demanded anaudience of His Majesty.

The king knew very well what the young fellow wanted, as by that time many princes and knights had come on the same errand, in the hope of winning the beautiful princess, but theyhad all failed. So John, the young peasant was admitted to theroyal presence.

"Good morning, your Majesty," John said.

"Good morning, my lad. Well, what do you want?" asked the king, kindly.

"So please, your Majesty, I want a wife."

"Very good, lad; but what would you keep her on?"

"Oh! I dare say I could manage to keep her pretty comfortably. My father has a pig. A wonderful pig, your Majesty; he has kept my father, my mother, seven sisters, and myself, forthe last twenty years."

"Indeed!" said the king.

"He gives us as good a quart of milk every morning as any cow."

"Indeed!" said the king.

"Yes, your Majesty, and lays most delicious eggs for our breakfast."

"Indeed!" said the king.

"And every day my mother cuts a nice bit of bacon out of his side, and every night it grows together again."

"Indeed!" said the king.

"The other day this pig disappeared, my mother looked for him high and low, he was nowhere to be seen."

"That was very sad," said the king.

"Finally, she found him in the larder, catching mice."

"A very useful pig!" said the king.

"Yes, your Majesty, and he pays all the bills out of the gold he picks up on the road."

"A very precious pig," said the king.

"Lately he has seemed unruly, and rather out of sorts."

"That's very sad!" said the king.

"He has refused to go where he is told, and won't allow my mother to have any more bacon from his side. Besides which, your Majesty, he is growing rather blind, and can't see where he isgoing."

"He should be led," said the king.

"Yes, your Majesty, that is why my father has just engaged your father to look after him."

"That's not true," yelled the king . . . then suddenly he remembered his daughter's promise. So he was obliged to allow the princess to marry the peasant's son, but this he neverregretted, for the peasant's son became a most clever andamiable young prince, and lived happily with his bride and hisfather-in-law for very many years. Years after, when John becamethe king, all his people declared they had never had so wise aruler. Then it was that he romanced no longer but was alwaysbelieved and respected.