“Tell me, grandfather,” said the King, “when and where was such corn grown? Have you ever bought any like it, or sown any in your fields?”

And the old man replied:

“Corn like this used to grow everywhere in my time. I lived on corn like this in my young days, and fed others on it. It was grain like this that we used to sow and reap and thrash.”

And the King asked:

“Tell me, grandfather, did you buy it anywhere, or did you grow it all yourself?”

The old man smiled.

“In my time,” he answered, “no one ever thought of such a sin as buying or selling bread; and we knew nothing of money. Each man had corn enough of his own.”

“Then tell me, grandfather,” asked the King, “where was your field, where did you grow corn like this?”