In a cozy little village, nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a farmer named Crabbe. He wasn't very rich, but he had a clever wife named Grethel. One day, Crabbe thought, "Being a farmer is hard work. I wish I could be a doctor! They seem to know everything and make lots of money!"

So, he sold his two best oxen, bought a simple ABC book (because he thought that's what doctors read first!), a long, serious-looking coat, and a big sign. On the sign, he painted: DOCTOR KNOW-ALL. He hung it outside his little cottage.

Soon, a very rich Lord in a grand castle nearby had a lot of money stolen. "Find me this Doctor Know-All!" he boomed. "If he truly knows all, he can find my gold."

When Doctor Know-All (that was Crabbe, remember!) and Grethel arrived at the castle, the Lord said, "If you are so clever, you must dine with me. And you will tell me who stole my gold."

Crabbe was very nervous. At dinner, the first servant brought a big bowl of soup. Crabbe nudged Grethel and whispered, "Well, Grethel, that's the first one." He meant the first course of dinner. But the servant, who was one of the thieves, turned pale. He thought, "He knows!"

Then, a second servant brought a platter of roasted chicken. "That's the second," Crabbe sighed to his wife, thinking of how many more dishes might come. The second servant, also a thief, nearly dropped the platter!

A third servant brought a fancy cake. "And that's the third!" Crabbe mumbled, feeling quite full. The third thief started to sweat.

Finally, the Lord pointed to a large, covered dish. A fourth servant stood beside it, trembling. "Doctor Know-All," the Lord said, "what is under that cover?"

Crabbe had no idea! He looked down at his plate and groaned, thinking of his bad luck, "Oh, you poor Crabbe! Now you're in real trouble!"

The fourth servant, hearing "Crabbe," thought the Doctor was talking about him (as if he were a crab caught in a trap)! He yelped, "Yes, it's me! I confess!" The other three servants, seeing him confess, also cried out, "We did it too!"

The four servants were so scared! Later that night, they secretly went to Crabbe. "Please, Doctor Know-All," they begged, "don't tell the Lord exactly how you knew! We'll give you gold and show you where the stolen money is hidden!"

They showed him the money, hidden inside the big fireplace. The next day, Crabbe confidently told the Lord, "Your money, my Lord, is hidden in the fireplace!"

The Lord was amazed! He found his money and gave Doctor Know-All a huge reward.

And so, Farmer Crabbe, who just wanted a change, became famous as Doctor Know-All, all thanks to a little bit of luck and some very nervous thieves!

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