Imagine a bright, sunny morning, perfect for a journey! A master and his servant, whose name was Tom, were walking along a country path. The master, feeling a bit grand, said, "Tom, here are three gold coins. Keep them safe for me, will you?"

Tom, who had a mischievous glint in his eye, took the coins. A little later, as they walked past a big, mossy rock, Tom quickly, when the master wasn't looking, dug a tiny hole with his heel and hid two of the gold coins under it. He kept one in his pocket.

After a while, the master said, "Tom, I need those coins now."
Tom reached into his pocket and pulled out the single coin. "Here you are, master!"
"But I gave you three!" exclaimed the master, looking puzzled.
Tom scratched his head. "Oh dear! Did I drop them? I must have! I am so clumsy."
The master grumbled, "Well, we must go back and find them!"

So, they turned around. As they walked, Tom pretended to search very carefully. When they reached the mossy rock, Tom cried out, "Aha! I knew I was clever! Look, master, here are the other two coins, right where I must have dropped them!" He dug them out from under the rock.
The master was very impressed. "Tom, you truly are a clever servant to find them so quickly!"

They continued their journey. A bit later, the master handed Tom his fine hunting rifle. "Carry this for me, Tom. Be careful with it."
Tom nodded. When they passed a thick bush, Tom, quick as a wink, hid the rifle inside it while the master admired a butterfly.
Soon, the master said, "Tom, give me my rifle. I see some birds."
Tom looked around in pretend panic. "Oh, master! The rifle! It's gone! I must have put it down somewhere and forgotten it!"
The master stamped his foot. "You careless boy! We must go back again!"

So, back they went. Tom, looking very serious, peered under leaves and behind trees. When they got to the thick bush, he shouted, "Hooray! My cleverness has done it again! Here is your rifle, master, safe and sound!"
The master beamed. "Tom, you are the cleverest servant in the world! First the money, now the rifle! Amazing!"

Finally, they arrived at an inn, tired and hungry. The master ordered two plump roasted chickens. "Tom," he said, "watch these chickens while I go see to our rooms. Don't let anything happen to them."
Tom sat down, and the smell of the roasted chicken was wonderful. "Hmm," he thought, "one little bite won't hurt." But one bite led to another, and soon, one whole chicken was gone!
"Oh dear," Tom muttered. Just then, he heard the master coming. Quickly, he grabbed the second chicken and started eating it as fast as he could.
The master came in. "Tom! What are you doing? Where are my chickens?"
Tom, with his mouth full, mumbled, "Master, a sneaky cat dashed in and snatched one chicken! I saw it! So, I quickly started eating the other one to save it from the cat too!"
The master stared. "You ate both my chickens?" He was angry, but he also thought, "Well, he is very clever, trying to save the chicken like that."

The next morning, the master wanted to shave. "Tom," he said, "my razor is dull. Go find a grindstone and sharpen it."
Tom found a big, heavy grindstone near the river. He started to carry it, but then, with a loud "Oops!" and a big SPLASH, he let the grindstone fall into the deep water.
He ran back to his master. "Master, oh master! I was carrying the grindstone, and it slipped! It's at the bottom of the river!"
The master sighed. "You clumsy fellow! Now what?"
Tom's eyes twinkled. "Don't worry, master! I am a strong swimmer! I can dive in and get it. But my clothes will get all wet. Perhaps I should take them off. And you should hold your coat and your money bag for me, so they don't get wet either when I bring the heavy stone out."
The master, still thinking Tom was just a bit clumsy but very clever, agreed. He handed Tom his coat and his money bag.
Tom took off his own shabby clothes, took the master's fine coat and heavy money bag, and said, "Watch this, master!" He pretended to get ready to dive, then, suddenly, he turned and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him, with the master's coat and all his money!

The poor master stood by the river, with no coat, no money, no chickens, and no servant. He finally realized that Tom wasn't just clever; he was a little too clever for him! And Tom, well, Tom had a very comfortable journey from then on.

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