The Three Rascals

Once upon a time in the city of Paris, there lived three friends. These friends were devoid of any skills or training. They exhibited no desire to work hard for a living. Being lively and bright, they relied on their cunning to filch from the unsuspecting people they encountered during their travails.

The Encounter at the Farmhouse

One sunny day found these three friends in the rural expanses, walking past a farmhouse. The sight of the farmer’s wife baking bread grabbed their attention. They chose to rest under a large, shady tree, as the afternoon sun was scorchingly hot. Furthermore, they derived pleasure in observing others labour.

The friendly farmer’s wife, relishing the prospect of conversation, asked them about their origin. Sniffing her simplicity, one of the friends countered, ‘Oh, we’ve just come from Heaven’. This statement left the farmer’s wife astounded, and she proceeded to inquire about her deceased son John.

A Deceptive Deal

‘Oh, indeed we’ve met him,’ replied one, continuing the ruse. ‘We were able to lend him some money as he had spent all his.’ The truthfulness and sincerity reflected in his voice made the woman believe them. The thought of her son needing money in heaven saddened her. She decided to give these ‘heavenly’ visitors a hundred silver pennies and a pair of shoes to deliver to her son. They accepted her offer graciously.

The Husband Returns

Upon her husband’s return, she could not resist sharing the news of the ‘heavenly’ visitors and the aid she offered for their son. ‘Stupid woman,’ her husband chastised, ‘could you not see that those were three rascals?’ Enraged, he decided to chase after them to deliver a sound beating.

The Farmer’s Own Trickery

The farmer quickly saddled his horse and rode the trail the rascals had taken. The rascals, anticipating pursuit, concocted another scheme involving a stone-breaker nearby. One rascal in disguise directed the farmer into a dense, horse-unfriendly wood. Trusted with the farmer’s horse, the rascals made their quick escape.

Return to the Farmhouse

Emerging from the woods at nightfall, the deluded farmer found both the stone-breaker and his horse missing. With nothing but contempt for himself, the farmer had no choice but to undertake the long walk home. Upon his return, he answered his wife’s queries about the alleged ruffians by amplifying their deceit. In order to save face, he asserted that he found them to be good people, so good indeed that he gave them his horse for their faster return to heaven. Hence, the wife never discovered how she and her husband had been deceitfully tricked.