--- title: The Wisdom Seller. — Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat · full text with trees description: The Wisdom Seller., «Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat» by C. A. Kincaid: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman, who earned a tiny income as a clerk. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/17/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/) / The Wisdom Seller. # The Wisdom Seller. The Wisdom Seller. of «Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat» by C. A. Kincaid: the whole text, 115 sentences and 1693 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman, who earned a tiny income as a clerk.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") He had one son, a bright, clever boy, who went to school and was a favourite alike of boys and masters.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") He might have risen to great learning, had his father lived.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Unhappily before the boy had left school the poor Brahman died.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy had to leave school and try to keep his mother and younger brothers and sisters.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") At first he became a candidate for a clerkship in a public office.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") But this brought him no pay; and although he wrote petitions in his spare time, he only earned thereby Rs.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") 3 or Rs.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") 4 a month.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") This sum was not enough to keep him and his family from starving.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") One day he resolved to seek some other way of earning a living and this is what he did.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") He went into the town and hired the smallest shop he could find.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") He spent the few annas he had in the world in buying some writing paper, an ink pot, a bottle of ink, a pen and an empty box.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Over the shop he got painted the words “WISDOM SELLER.”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") All round him were jewellers’ shops, cloth shops, green-grocers’ shops.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The other dealers waited for customers, but the green-grocers shouted to the passersby “Pumpkins\![16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Pumpkins!—three pice a pound!”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman boy thought that he would do as the green-grocers did and when any one passed, he called out at the top of his voice, “Wisdom\![18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Wisdom\![19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") All kinds\![20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") All prices!”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") At first the passersby could not make out what he meant.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") When they understood, they did not think of buying his wares.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") They crowded round his shop and laughed at him.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who would buy wisdom,” they cried, “especially from a lad like that?”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Brahman boy did not mind them at all.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") He went on shouting at the top of his voice “Wisdom\![27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Wisdom\![28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") All kinds\![29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") All prices!”[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") For several days he made no money at all; but at last the whole city got to hear of the new shop and four or five passersby stopped and bought an anna or two worth of wisdom.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") He was thus rather better off than when he had been an unpaid clerk; but he knew that when the novelty wore off, he would get no more customers.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Still he did not despair.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") It so happened that a certain Nagar lived in that city.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") He was really very stupid; but he had inherited a large fortune from his father and so he thought himself very clever.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Just to show off, he called his only son VIDHYA or LEARNING.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") But in spite of this grand name, the son was just as stupid as the father.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") One day Vidhya passed the Brahman boy’s shop and heard him shout “Wisdom\![38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Wisdom\![39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") All kinds\![40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") All prices!”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") So foolish was he, that he thought wisdom was a sort of vegetable.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") He first asked its price per pound.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman boy said “I sell not by weight, but by quality.”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Vidhya then put two pice on the counter and said he would take half an anna’s worth.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy wrote on a piece of paper “It is not wise to stand and watch two people fighting.”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") He then tied the paper inside Vidhya’s scarf and took the money.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Vidhya went home and said to his father “I have bought some wisdom for two pice and it is tied inside my scarf.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Let us undo the knot and look at it.”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") His father did not understand, but undid the knot and finding the paper read “It is not wise to stand and watch two people fighting.”[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") He was very angry and said to his son “Well, you are a fool\![51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Fancy paying two pice for this nonsense\![52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Why, every one knows that it is not wise to stand and watch two people fighting.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") In a great rage the Nagar walked to the Brahman’s shop and began to call out “Rogue\![54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Thief\![55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Cheat! you did my son out of his money, just because he was a foolish boy.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Give me back the two pice, or I shall call the police!”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman kept his temper and said quietly: “Why are you so angry about nothing?[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") I did not make your son give me the two pice.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") He asked me to sell him so much wisdom and I did so.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Give me back my wisdom and take back your money.”[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") At once the Nagar threw the paper at the Brahman and cried: “Now give me my money!”[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman said “No, I said I would give you back your money if you gave me back my wisdom.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") You only offer me the paper.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") If you want your two pice back, you must sign a document, binding your son never to abide by my advice and always to stand and watch people fighting.”[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") The passersby took the side of the Brahman boy.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") The Nagar signed the document and went away with his two pice, very pleased to get them back so cheaply.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Two or three months later each of the king’s two queens sent her maid to buy her some groceries.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") They both went to the same grocer and both tried to buy the same article.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") As the grocer had only the one sample they began to quarrel so fiercely that the grocer in a fright took to his heels and ran out of the shop.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") But the two maids went on quarrelling.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Just then Vidhya strolled up and saw the quarrel.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Before meeting the Brahman boy he would have run away; for stupid though he was, he knew it was unsafe to stand and watch a fight especially between the two queens’ maid-servants.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") But he remembered the promise made by his father, so he went close up and watched.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the maids noticed him and called on him to witness that the other maid had struck her.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") The other maid retorted that so far from giving blows, she had received any number of them; and she, too, called on Vidhya to be her witness.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") At last they separated and the maid-servants and Vidhya went to their several homes.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") The two maids went to their mistresses and exaggerated what had happened.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") The queens in turn became furious and sent their maids to complain to the king.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") At the same time each sent word to Vidhya that if he did not depose in favour of her maid-servant he would be beheaded.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Vidhya was very frightened and told his father.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") The two talked the matter over all that day and all the next night, but they could not find a way of escape.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") At last Vidhya said “Let us ask the Brahman boy, who sells wisdom; if he really has any to sell, he may help me out.”[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") As a last resort, the Nagar agreed and father and son went to the Brahman boy’s shop and told him what had befallen Vidhya.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman boy asked for a fee of Rs.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") 500.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") On getting the money, he told Vidhya to feign insanity and to pretend that he did not understand what the king asked him.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") Next day the king heard the case.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") The king questioned him closely, but no question would he answer.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") He merely gabbled all the time, until the king lost all patience and drove him out of the court room.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") Very pleased with himself, Vidhya ran home and to all whom he met he praised the wisdom of the Brahman boy, whose fame thus spread through the whole city.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") The Nagar was at first delighted at his son’s escape; then he began to reflect that his son must always feign insanity or the king would learn that he had been tricked and would certainly cut Vidhya’s head off.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") He went to the Brahman boy, who asked for another fee of Rs.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") 500 which the Nagar paid.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") “Vidhya should go to the king,” said the Brahman boy, “when he is in a merry mood and tell him the whole story.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") When he is in a good temper, he will laugh at it and forgive him.”[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") Vidhya followed the advice and one day finding the king in a good humour he confessed everything.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") The king laughed heartily and forgave him.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he sent for the Brahman boy and asked him whether he would sell him wisdom and, if so, at what price.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes,” said the boy, “I shall be very proud to sell the king wisdom; but my fee will be one lakh.”[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") The king paid the lakh and got in return a paper on which the boy had written: “Do nothing without thinking deeply first.”[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") The king knew the advice to be excellent and dismissing the young Brahman, he had the words embroidered on all his clothes and engraved on all his plates, cups and dishes.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") A few months later the king fell very ill.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") The prime minister eager to get rid of him, urged the doctor to put poison in the royal medicine.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") The doctor agreed and gave the king a poisoned draught.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") As the king lifted his gold cup to his lips, he saw engraved on it the words “Do nothing without thinking deeply first.”[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") Without suspecting anything he thought over the words and lowering the cup looked intently at its contents.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") The doctor’s guilty conscience made him fear that the king guessed that the medicine was poisoned.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") He threw himself at his master’s feet and confessing everything, prayed for mercy.[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") The astonished king called the guard and had the doctor seized.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") He sent for the prime minister and bade him drink the poisoned medicine.[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") The minister in his turn threw himself at the royal feet and begged for mercy.[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") But the king had him hanged on the spot.[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") He then sent for the doctor and after rating him soundly, banished him from the kingdom.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") Lastly he made the Brahman boy, whose wisdom had saved his life, Prime Minister and loaded him with honours.[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [King Mansing of Sirohi.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/16/) - next →: [Magadha and Rupvati.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/18/) - ↑ back to [Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/)