Many, many years ago there lived a king who said that anyone who could tell a story for two years would get a piece of land.

First one man tried but his story lasted only two weeks. Another man finished his story after five days. A third man began his story like this:

«Once a farmer planted some corn. When the corn grew the farmer gathered it and put it into a shed. Then the mouse came into the shed and began to eat the corn.»

The man went on, «The mouse took a grain of corn, the mouse took a grain of corn, the mouse took a grain of corn…»

The King interrupted the story, «Well, what was after this?»

«I can’t tell you,» answered the man, «because the mouse hasn’t finished eating the corn yet.»

«All right,» said the king, «you will get a piece of land.»