He Must Borrow — Even Elephants!

Robin was a strange fellow. Hardly a week passed without him borrowing money or some material from somebody or other. It was very difficult for his debtors to remember whatever they had loaned to him. Those who had suffered from his defaults never obliged him again. However, Robin could always win over new people with his sweet words.

Once, some of his harassed debtors complained about his conduct to the king. At the king’s order, he was led to a spot where roads crossed and made to stand with a heavy boulder on his back as punishment. The officers who left him there had not gone far when a man with a dozen elephants happened to pass by.

Robin asked the stranger, “Are these elephants for sale?” The stranger replied, “Yes.” Thereupon, Robin pleaded, “My brother, you can’t sell all the elephants at once. Please lend me two of them for a day.”

When the officers returned, they freed Robin and led him to the king, saying, “This is an incorrigible case. This fellow just can’t live without borrowing, whether he has any use for the things he borrows or not.” Then they narrated their experience. The king laughed and let Robin go.