A MISER’S HIRED MAN
by Clifton Johnson · from Bluebeard
Adapted Version
Tom was a clever boy. He worked for a farmer. The Farmer liked to save money.
Tom worked hard for The Farmer. The Farmer saved all his money. They ate supper in the dark. The Farmer did not use candles. Tom put hot soup in his mouth. The Farmer said, "Ouch!" His mouth was hot. Tom said, "Use a light!" The Farmer then used a candle.
One day, The Butcher came. He bought The Calf. The Butcher took The Calf away. Tom told The Farmer, "I can play a trick!"
Tom ran fast. He put a pretty shoe on the road. The Butcher saw the shoe. He did not stop.
Tom ran again. He put another shoe down. The Butcher saw two shoes. He stopped his horse. He tied his horse. He went back for the first shoe. The Calf was now alone.
Tom quickly took The Calf. He took the second shoe too. He took them for his trick. Tom went home with them.
The Butcher came back. The shoes were gone. The Calf was gone too. He was very surprised.
The Butcher went to The Farmer. He told him his sad story. Tom said, "I have a calf. Do you want to buy it?"
Tom made The Calf look new. He used white chalk. The Calf looked different now. The Butcher bought The Calf. He did not know it was his calf. It was the calf from before.
Tom made another bet. He ran ahead of The Butcher. He wanted to play another trick.
Tom hid behind a bush. He made a sound. It was "Moo, moo!" like a calf. The Butcher heard the sound. He thought his first calf was near.
The Butcher got off his horse. He looked for the sound. He looked in the bushes. He left his new calf alone.
Tom quickly took The Calf. He took it for his trick. He went home again.
The Butcher came back. His second calf was gone. No calf again! He thought it was magic. He was very sad.
The Farmer told The Butcher. He told him about Tom's tricks. The Butcher got his calf back. He got his money back too. Everyone laughed. It was a fun game. Tom was very clever!
Original Story
XIV—A MISER’S HIRED MAN
Tom escaped, but it was a rough life he led, and he was always in fear of punishment for his many misdeeds. At last he concluded he had had enough of depending on his wits for a livelihood and decided he would go to work.
So he hired himself to an old miser of a farmer with whom he continued several years. On the whole he made a good servant, and though he sometimes played tricks on those about him, it was his habit to make good any damage he did.
His master was a miser, as I have said, and he and his help ate supper with no other light than that of the fire, for he would not furnish candles. Tom did not like this, and one night he thrust his spoon into the middle of the soup dish where the soup was hottest and clapped a spoonful into his master’s mouth.
“You rascal!” his master cried, “my mouth is all burned.”
“Then why do you keep the house so dark?” Tom asked. “I can’t half see, and what wonder is it if I missed the way to my own mouth and got the spoon in your mouth, instead?”
After that they always had a candle on the table at supper, for his master would feed no more in the dark while Tom was present.
One day a butcher came and bought a fine fat calf from Tom’s master. He tied its legs, took it on the horse’s back in front of him, and off he went.
“Master,” Tom said, “what do you say to playing a joke on that fellow? With your leave I’ll get that calf away from him before he has gone two miles, and he won’t know what has become of it either.”
“You can try,” the master said, “but I don’t believe you can do it.”
So Tom went into the house, got a pretty shoe with a silver buckle to it that belonged to the servant maid and ran across a field till he got ahead of the butcher. He threw the shoe into the middle of the highway and hid behind a hedge. The butcher came riding along with the calf before him.
“Hey!” he said, “there’s a fine lady’s shoe. If it wasn’t that this calf makes it a great trouble to get off and on I’d alight and pick the shoe up. But after all what is the use of one shoe without its neighbor?”
On he rode and let it lie. Tom then slipped out from behind the hedge, secured the shoe, and ran across the fields till he again got before the butcher. He threw the shoe into the middle of the road and once more crouched behind the hedge and waited.
Along came the butcher, and saw the shoe. “Now,” he said, “I can have a pair of good shoes for the lifting. I’ll take them home and put my old woman in a good humor for once.”
Down he got, lifted off the calf, tied his horse to the hedge, and ran back, thinking to get the other shoe. While he was gone Tom picked up the calf and the shoe and tramped off home.
The butcher did not find the shoe he went back to get, and when he returned to his horse the other shoe was gone and so was his calf. “No doubt the calf has broken the rope that was about its feet,” he said, “and has run into the fields.”
So he spent a long time searching for it amongst the hedges and ditches. Finally he returned to Tom’s master and told him a long story of how he had lost the calf by means of a pair of shoes, which he believed the devil himself must have dropped in the roadway and had picked up later and the calf too.
“I suppose I ought to be thankful,” he said in concluding, “that I have my old horse left to carry me home so that I don’t have to walk.”
“Wouldn’t you like to buy another calf?” Tom asked.
“Why, yes,” the butcher responded, “if you have one to sell.”
Tom then brought from the barn the very calf that the butcher had lost, but as Tom had made a fine white face on it with chalk and water, the butcher did not recognize it. So the sale was made, its legs were tied and it was hoisted onto the horse in front of the butcher. As soon as he was gone, Tom told his master he believed he could get the calf again.
“Oh, no!” the farmer said, “you’ve fooled him once and he’ll be on the lookout for mischief now. But you can try if you want to.”
Away ran Tom through the fields until he got ahead of the butcher near where he had taken the calf from him. There he hid behind the hedges and as the butcher was passing he put his hand on his mouth and cried, “Baw, baw!” like a calf.
When the butcher heard this he stopped his horse. “There’s the calf I lost,” he said.
Down he got, lifted the calf from his horse to the ground, and scrambled hastily through the hedge, thinking he would lay his hands on the lost calf in a few moments. But as he went through one part of the hedge, Tom went through another, got the calf on his back and hurried through the fields home.
The poor butcher spent his time in vain running hither and thither seeking his calf. At last he returned to his horse, and when he found his other calf gone he concluded the place was bewitched.
“Oh, misfortunate day!” he cried, “what shall I do now? and what’ll Joan say when I get home, for my money’s gone, and the two calves are gone, and I can’t buy her the shawl I promised to get.”
Back he went to the farmer lamenting his loss. But the farmer thought the joke had been carried far enough now. He told him what had happened and gave him his calf and the second payment of money. So the butcher went off well satisfied, for he had had a good deal of fun for his trouble, had he not?
Story DNA
Moral
Even a miser can be outsmarted, and cleverness can sometimes yield unexpected rewards.
Plot Summary
Tom, a former rascal, becomes a hired man for a miserly farmer. He first tricks his master into providing candles by burning his mouth with hot soup. Later, Tom bets he can steal a calf from a butcher who bought it from the farmer. He does so by using a pair of shoes as a distraction, then disguises the calf and sells it back to the butcher. Tom then tricks the butcher a second time by mimicking a calf's cry, leading the butcher to abandon the second calf. The farmer eventually reveals Tom's tricks, returns the butcher's calf and money, and everyone finds amusement in the clever deceptions.
Themes
Emotional Arc
frustration to amusement
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects a common folk tale trope of the clever servant outwitting a stingy master or an unsuspecting outsider, often with a lighthearted tone. Clifton Johnson was an American author and photographer known for collecting and illustrating folk tales in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Plot Beats (15)
- Tom, a former rascal, seeks honest work and becomes a hired man for a miserly farmer.
- Annoyed by the miser's refusal to use candles, Tom deliberately burns his master's mouth with hot soup, leading to candles being provided for supper.
- A butcher buys a calf from the miser, and Tom bets he can steal it from the butcher.
- Tom places a single lady's shoe on the road, which the butcher ignores due to the inconvenience of dismounting.
- Tom places the other shoe further down the road, prompting the butcher to dismount, tie his horse, and go back for the first shoe, leaving the calf unattended.
- While the butcher is gone, Tom takes the calf and the second shoe and returns home.
- The butcher returns to find both shoes and his calf gone, assuming the calf escaped.
- The butcher returns to the farmer, lamenting his loss, and Tom offers to sell him another calf.
- Tom disguises the stolen calf with chalk and water, and the butcher unknowingly buys his own calf back.
- Tom bets he can steal the calf again, and runs ahead of the butcher.
- Tom hides and makes a calf-like 'Baw, baw!' sound, convincing the butcher that his lost calf is nearby.
- The butcher dismounts and searches for the 'lost' calf, leaving the newly purchased calf unattended.
- Tom takes the second calf and returns home.
- The butcher returns to find his second calf gone, concluding the place is bewitched and lamenting his misfortune.
- The farmer reveals Tom's tricks, returns the butcher's calf and money, and the butcher leaves satisfied, having found the experience amusing.
Characters
Tom ★ protagonist
Lean and agile build, of average height, with quick, darting movements that suggest a life of resourcefulness and evasion. His hands are likely calloused from farm work but also nimble, capable of quick actions.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing typical of a hired man in a rural setting. Likely wears a coarse linen or homespun tunic, sturdy breeches, and worn leather boots. His clothes are functional, perhaps patched, and show signs of hard work.
Wants: To make a living, to avoid boredom, and to subtly improve his living conditions (like getting a candle). He also seems driven by the challenge of outsmarting others.
Flaw: His love for pranks can sometimes lead him into trouble or cause temporary inconvenience for others.
Starts as a trickster who has 'escaped' a rough life, and while he continues his tricks, he channels them into more benign forms, even using them to improve his and his master's situation (the candle) and to entertain. He learns to apply his cunning within a more structured life.
Mischievous, clever, resourceful, pragmatic, and ultimately fair (as he makes good on damage). He enjoys playing tricks but isn't malicious.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man with a lean, agile build, average height, and quick, intelligent brown eyes. His face is weathered with a mischievous smile, and his medium-brown hair is practical and slightly unkempt. He wears a coarse, patched linen tunic, sturdy dark breeches, and worn leather boots. He stands with a light, quick posture, one hand reaching into his pocket, a knowing smirk on his face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Miserly Farmer ◆ supporting
Thin and gaunt, with a stooped posture from years of hard work and perhaps a lack of proper nourishment due to his miserly habits. His clothes hang loosely on his frame.
Attire: Worn, drab, and practical peasant clothing, likely made of coarse wool or linen in muted earth tones. His garments are clean but show signs of age and repair, reflecting his refusal to spend money on new items. Perhaps a simple, threadbare waistcoat over a plain shirt.
Wants: To save money at all costs, to accumulate wealth, and to maintain control over his meager resources.
Flaw: His extreme miserliness makes him vulnerable to manipulation and causes him discomfort (eating in the dark).
Undergoes a minor change, being forced by Tom's actions to provide a candle for supper, showing a slight compromise to his miserly ways for comfort. He also learns to appreciate Tom's cunning.
Miserly, suspicious, easily annoyed, but also somewhat tolerant of Tom's antics (especially when they benefit him). He is cautious and reluctant to spend.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man with a thin, gaunt build and a stooped posture. His face is deeply wrinkled, with sharp, suspicious gray eyes and sparse, unkempt gray hair. He wears a worn, drab brown linen shirt, a threadbare dark waistcoat, and patched trousers. He stands with his shoulders hunched, hands clasped in front of him, a grudging expression on his face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Butcher ◆ supporting
Sturdy and robust, with a practical, workingman's build. He is likely of average height, with strong arms from handling livestock.
Attire: Practical, sturdy working clothes. Likely a thick linen or wool smock, dark trousers, and heavy leather boots. He might wear a leather apron over his clothes for work, though not explicitly mentioned for his travel. His clothing is functional and durable.
Wants: To conduct his business, make a living, and occasionally bring home a treat for his wife.
Flaw: His gullibility and desire for a bargain make him an easy target for Tom's tricks.
Starts as a confident businessman but becomes increasingly bewildered and frustrated by the 'bewitched' circumstances, ultimately learning a lesson about being too easily distracted. He ends up satisfied after the truth is revealed.
Honest, somewhat gullible, easily distracted by potential gain (the shoes), and prone to lamenting his misfortunes. He is good-natured but not particularly sharp-witted.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy, robust adult man with a broad, honest, ruddy face and short, dark hair. He has straightforward brown eyes. He wears a thick, practical dark blue linen smock over a plain white shirt, sturdy dark trousers, and heavy brown leather boots. He stands with a confident, slightly bewildered expression, one hand scratching his head. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Calf ○ minor
A young, fine, fat calf. Its coat is likely a light brown or reddish-brown, with soft, downy fur. It has large, innocent eyes and wobbly legs.
Attire: None, but it is tied with ropes for transport.
Wants: To survive (implicitly).
Flaw: Its inability to escape or defend itself.
Is sold, 'stolen' twice, disguised, and eventually returned to its rightful owner (the Butcher).
Passive, a victim of circumstance, simply an object of trade and a prop in Tom's pranks.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young, fine, fat calf with a light brown coat and soft, downy fur. It has large, innocent dark eyes and a wet nose. Its face is temporarily covered in white chalk and water, giving it a distinctive appearance. It stands on slightly wobbly legs. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Miser's Farmhouse Kitchen
A dimly lit, spartan kitchen within a modest, likely half-timbered German farmhouse. The only light source is the flickering glow from a stone hearth, casting long shadows. The air is probably cool and still, with the scent of woodsmoke and simple supper. The table is rough-hewn wood.
Mood: Gloomy, frugal, tense due to the miser's habits, but with a hint of mischievousness from Tom.
Tom plays a trick on his miserly master by spooning hot soup into his mouth due to the lack of light, resulting in the master finally providing a candle for supper.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rustic, dimly lit German farmhouse kitchen interior at night. A large stone hearth with a small, crackling fire provides the only illumination, casting deep shadows across rough plaster walls and a heavy, dark wooden table. Simple wooden benches are pulled up to the table. The air is thick with the faint scent of woodsmoke. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Rural Highway and Adjacent Fields
A winding, unpaved dirt highway, likely dusty, cutting through open fields. The fields are bordered by thick, natural hedges, possibly hawthorn or blackthorn, providing ample cover for hiding. The landscape suggests a temperate European countryside with rolling terrain.
Mood: Open, rural, initially mundane but quickly becoming a scene of playful deception and frustration.
Tom repeatedly outsmarts the butcher by using a shoe as a decoy to steal the calf, then later uses vocal mimicry to trick him again.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-drenched, winding dirt highway in the European countryside, flanked by vibrant green, overgrown hedges that are tall enough to conceal a person. Beyond the hedges, expansive, gently rolling grassy fields stretch towards a distant treeline under a clear blue sky. The ground is dry earth with occasional small stones. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Miser's Farmyard and Barn
A working farmyard adjacent to a German farmhouse, likely unpaved and possibly muddy in places, with a large, weathered timber barn. The barn would have a hayloft and stalls for animals. The overall impression is one of practical, if somewhat unkempt, rural industry.
Mood: Functional, rural, a place of commerce and animal husbandry, later becoming a staging ground for Tom's tricks.
The butcher initially buys a calf here, and Tom returns the stolen calves here, disguising one with chalk and water.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rustic German farmyard on a bright day. A large, weathered timber barn with a gabled roof and a wide, open entrance dominates the scene. The ground is packed dirt, possibly with some straw scattered. In the background, a simple, half-timbered farmhouse with a thatched roof is visible. Sunlight illuminates the scene, casting soft shadows. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
