Page:Christmas Fireside Stories.djvu/220

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208
The Parson and the Clerk.

"Why, a day's journey," said the clerk.

"How do you make that out?" asked the king.

"Well, don't you see, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and he does it easily enough in a day," said the clerk.

"Very well," said the king;" but tell me now, what you think I am worth, as I stand here before you."

"Well, our Lord was valued at thirty silver pieces, and I suppose I cannot put you higher than twenty-nine," said the clerk.

"So, so!" said the king, "since you are so very clever at everything, tell me what it is I am thinking about just now?"

"Why, you are surely thinking it is the parson who stands here before you; but so help me, if you don't think wrong,—for I am the clerk."

"Be off with you,—go home, and you be the parson and let him be clerk," said the king, and so it was.