Franz and Horatio

Horatio’s only chore for the day was to roll the boulder up a steep hill to the King’s summer home. The king’s men were building a guest cottage for the princess.

Horatio was one of the oldest of the king’s men and also the least likely to roll a boulder up the hill. No one expected him to. No boulder was needed. The chore was given to Horatio to keep him busy and out of the way.

Horatio had refused retirement and was thought of as senile and weak of arm. As a result he was put out to pasture. So goes the wisdom of foolish youth.

Horatio strained and struggled with the boulder for hours. He took a lunch break, a nap, then an invigorating swim in the king’s frosty lake.

When he got back to the boulder, he continued to strain and struggle in his attempt to move the large stone up the hill. After a few hours of sweaty toil Horatio napped.

When he awoke it was already night fall, so he retired to the local Inn where he quaffed several tankards of ale, swallowed a bowl of beef and potatoes and a long loaf of warm bread oozing with creamy butter.

Then it was up the stairs for a goodnight romp with the chambermaid, after which he slept the night away until the sun rose and the chambermaid brought him a tray of sausage, eggs, toast, coffee, a good morning romp and a hot bath.

He then dressed in his heavy work clothes, slipped into his work boots and returned to the chore of moving the boulder.

Once again Horatio found himself at the massive stone, where he continued to struggle and strain till the sweat poured down by the bucket load.

A sheepherder by the name of Franz watched the toiling of the elder Horatio.

“I’ve watched you struggle with that boulder for two days,” said Franz.

“Yes,” said Horatio, “I’ve seen you watching. It’s been an arduous task, but I think I’m making some progress.”

“Progress?” said Franz. “Why, you old fool! For two days I’ve watched you struggle and strain till the sweat poured down like a river from your brow. Yet you’ve never once put your hands upon the boulder!”

“It’s a big boulder,” said Horatio. ”I‘ve been thinking about it.”

“Thinking about it?" said Franz. “What you need is a young, strong body. Thinking won’t get that boulder rolled up the hill! It takes aggression, strength and determination.”

“You look young and strong,” said Horatio. “Why don’t you show me how to roll a boulder up a hill.”

“A pleasure, sir," said Franz.

The young Franz made immediate progress with the boulder. He’d roll it a few yards, stop and brace it with a log he had tossed ahead.

On he continued. Roll, stop, brace. Roll, stop, brace. Until the boulder was resting on top of the hill.

"Job well done” said the king’s foreman. “We could use another good man. What say you?”

“Aye,” said Franz. “I’d like that very much. But who’d look after my sheep?”

“From the looks of it," said the foreman. “I guess the old fool at the bottom of the hill."

“What old fool?" said Franz.

“Why, Horatio,” said the foreman. “The one walking off with all your sheep.”

“Well, I’ll be," said Franz. “Who’s calling who a fool now?"

With that, Franz pushed the boulder off the hill and never looked back.

The end.