“No!” he answered at last, “I never sowed nor reaped any like it in my fields, nor did I ever buy any such. When we bought corn, the grains were always as small as they are now. But you might ask my father. He may have heard where such grain grew.”

So the King sent for the old man’s father, and he was found and brought before the King. He came walking with one crutch. The King showed him the grain, and the old peasant, who was still able to see, took a good look at it. And the King asked him:

“Can you not tell us, old man, where corn like this used to grow? Have you ever bought any like it, or sown any in your fields?”

Though the old man was rather hard of hearing, he still heard better than his son had done.