The River-god and the Seamstress

One day, as a seamstress was sitting sewing close to a river, her thimble fell into the water. When she cried out, the River-god appeared and asked, "My dear child, why are you crying?"

The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband to make a living for their family. The River-god dipped his hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.

"Is this your thimble?" the River-god asked. The seamstress replied, "No."

The River-god dipped into the river again. He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.

"Is this your thimble?" the River-god asked. Again, the seamstress replied, "No."

The River-god reached down again and came up with a leather thimble.

"Is this your thimble?" he asked. The seamstress replied, "Yes."

The River-god was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.

A few years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, when he slipped and fell headlong into the river, disappearing under the water at once.

When the seamstress cried out, the River-god again appeared and asked her, "'Why are you crying?"

"Oh River-god, my husband has fallen into the river!"

The River-god went down into the water and came up with George Clooney. "Is this your husband?" the River-god asked.

'Yes!' cried the seamstress.

The River-god was furious. "You lied! That is an untruth!"

The seamstress replied, "Oh, forgive me, River-god, but you misunderstand me. You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt.

Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said 'yes', you would have given me all three. I'm not in my prime any more and taking care of three husbands would have been just too much for me. That's why I said 'yes' to George Clooney."

The River-god was impressed and let her keep George Clooney. The woman went home happy.

Moral

Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honourable reason, and in the best interest of others.

That's our story, and we're sticking to it.