

          Once there were two generous kings. But one was more generous 
     than the other. 
          One of the kings was named Karan. Every morning, King Karan gave 
     to the poor a hundred pounds of gold. And he had promised never to eat 
     his breakfast till he gave the gold away. 
          How did King Karan get so much gold? That was a secret, and here 
     it is: 
          Every morning before dawn, the King climbed a mountain to the hut 
     of a holy and very hungry hermit. Then he let the hermit fry him and 
     eat him for breakfast. 
          When the hermit finished his meal, he set the bones on the floor, 
     said some magic words--and there was King Karan as good as ever! Then 
     the hermit took his magic coat and shook from the pockets a hundred 
     pounds of gold coins. 
          Then the King carried the gold to his palace, gave it away, and 
     had his own breakfast. And, if you think he earned his meal, I agree!



