The Wager
Illustrated By: Elizabeth Rocha
MANY YEARS AGO IN DENMARK there was a poor father who lived with his son in a small cottage. Each day, they had to work hard to earn enough money to live. The father worked as a laborer. His son, John, ran errands.
One hot, summer day the son was sent a long distance to deliver a letter. After he had walked quite a while, he noticed a willow tree by the water. Its roots were exposed and drying out, so young John covered them up with moist soil.
In pushing up the soil up to cover the roots - what was that John saw in the dirt? Without a doubt it was a wallet - and one that was full of money!
John ran back to the town and asked everyone he met if they had lost a wallet.
Soon a horseman came galloping by. When John asked him, the horseman replied that, in fact, that very morning he had dropped his wallet on the way from home. He described it accurately and in great detail, and so John returned the wallet to him.
It turns out that the man on the horse owned a large estate in the nearby town of Østergård, and was Lord of that estate. The Lord was so grateful to John that he immediately gave the boy a generous reward. What's more, he asked the lad if he would like to work at his estate. He would pay room and board, and wages besides.
"Yes, I would indeed!" answered John, delighted to find steady work. He delivered the letter he had been given that morning. Then he rushed home to share the good news with his father. In three days time John moved to the Lord's estate at Østergård.
It so happens that the next day, the Lord of Østergård was entertaining company. He was bragging to his guests about his new servant. This young man was so honest and faithful and honorable, said he, that it would simply not be possible to trick him into telling a lie.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you!" said one guest. He was also a Lord and owned an estate in the neighboring town of Nebbegård. "I'm quite sure that if he were tempted enough, he would tell a lie."
So sure was the Lord of Østergård about the honest nature of his new servant that he immediately said he would place as large a wager as his neighbor pleased that he could not get John to tell a lie. Whichever Lord won the wager would also win the entire estate of the Lord who had lost. And so the challenge was struck.
The Lord of Nebbegård came up with a plan. First, he would write a letter to his daughter back home in Nebbegård, to be delivered by John. In the letter, he would ask his daughter to trick the servant, however she could, into giving her his master's horse. Then, when young John returned to his master without the horse, surely he would make up some sort of lie to explain why the horse was gone!
So the Lord of Nebbegård wrote the letter to his daughter. He told her about the wager and stressed how important it was for him to win. He wrote that the young man who delivered the letter was John and that she should behave as friendly toward him as possible. Her task was to persuade young John to give her the horse on which he rode.
Her task was to persuade young John to give her the horse on which he rode.
So the Lord of Nebbegård sealed the letter and gave it to the Lord of Østergård, who called at once for John. He asked his new hire to deliver the letter to the Nebbegård estate.
"John," said he, "this is your first errand in my charge. Take my horse so that you can return more quickly, and deliver this letter to my guest's estate in Nebbegård. Now do not ride too fast or by any means lose the horse. This is the finest and most valuable steed in my stable."
John said that he would do as his master bid him.
After awhile, John climbed off the horse and led the animal on foot. That way he could spare the creature the work of carrying him. Of course, this took more time. It was nearly dark by the time he reached Nebbegård.
When the young lady read her father's letter, she at once behaved in the most friendly manner toward John. 
The daughter entertained John in the most sumptuous manner. They laughed and talked well into the night. Just after midnight, she offered him a drink in a jeweled cup which contained sleeping powder. When the lad was tired and drowsy and more than a little bit love struck, she begged him to let her keep the horse.
With a yawn, he agreed. Then John fell deeply asleep.
The next morning, John found that he no longer had the horse. Sadly, he took the saddle and bridle and wandered back to Østergård. As he walked along it struck him how foolishly he had acted to give away his master's horse.
"What shall I say when I reach home?" he moaned. "When my master sees me, he will say, 'Well, John, have you executed my errand and delivered the letter?' I shall have to answer, 'Yes.' Then my master will say. 'What has become of my horse, which I entrusted with you?' Then what will I say? Perhaps I should say: 'I met a band of robbers who took the horse from me.'"
He stopped in the path and shook his head. "No, no, that will never do. I have never yet told a lie. I will not start now."
"No, no, that will never do. I have never yet told a lie. I will not start now."
Then John imagined how disappointed his father would be to find out how poorly he had behaved in his new job, and on his very first errand, too! Another thought rose to mind: "I know! I will say that the horse fell down and that I buried it in a ditch... Oh, no, that won't do either." John sighed.
Before long, John decided that he would say that the horse had suddenly run away and had shaken off his saddle and bridle, and that was why he was carrying them.
Long before he reached the front door to the estate at Østergård, the guests saw him coming from the distance. They could tell he was carrying the saddle and the bridle.
"Here comes your truthful boy!" exclaimed the Lord of Nebbegård. "Look how slowly he comes and without the horse. You know the instructions I gave my daughter in the letter. Who do you think will win the wager now?"
The Lord of Østergård saw John also. He was very angry at seeing him return without the horse. As soon as the boy entered the house, he was called up to where all the guests were assembled. "Well, John," bellowed John's master, "did you deliver the letter as you were bid?"
"Yes, I have, gracious master," said the boy, trembling.
"And what has become of my good horse, with which I entrusted you and ordered you to take such good care?"
John did not dare to meet his master's gaze and cast his eyes on the ground. In a low, sorrowful voice he said:
"I am filled with great remorse.
My senses took a different course,
And thus I lost my master's horse."
When he had finished, his master embraced him in joy. "You see?" he exclaimed with a grin.
Young John was stunned. Why would his master be pleased? "I knew well enough this lad would speak the truth!" he said, clapping John on the back. Turning to the Lord of Nebbegård, he gloated, "So! Which of us has won the wager now?" To young John he cried, "Be of good heart, my boy! As you have kept to the path of truth and right, when you are old enough, I will give you both house, and land, and horses, too!"
So pleased was he to win the wager that the Lord of Østergård allowed the Lord of Nebbegård to keep his estate after all.
The Lord of Nebbegård was relieved to keep his estate, as I'm sure you can imagine. His daughter was impressed to find out the young messenger she had managed to deceive had shown the strength of mind to own up to what he had done. Over time, she and John became true friends.
The Lord of Østergård invited John's father to come live with them. He had no sons of his own and after a few years had past, he declared John to be the full heir to his estate. For the rest of his life, John tended the estate faithfully and well, and was beloved by all who knew him.
