The story by Howard Pyle is similar to the “trickster” narratives found in many folktales. Three greedy community leaders (a priest, a provost, and the town mayor) decide to trick an unsuspecting farmer out of a fat pig (or is it a dog?) he is taking to market. Later, the sly farmer turns the tables with three tricks of his own. For his last trick, he tells them the truth! The tricksters woe their foolishness at the bottom of a deep pit, and the farmer ends up with a lot of their money. Themes: greed, cleverness, revenge, distrust.
This is the version of the story that appears in Pyle’s 1888 children’s book, The Wonder Clock. An version appeared two years earlier in Harper’s Young People magazine. In this version the three rogues are a clerk, provost and mayor. Not only is there is no mention of a priest, but no mention of the possibility that Master Jacob might ever help them get of the pit!
Original Text / PDF / Audio (3,200 words)