The Three Wise Goats

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The Three Wise Goats

A farmer's animals were free to roam, but they were forbidden from going into the fruit and vegetable patch.

One day he noticed his grapes had been eaten so he summoned all the animals and asked them what they knew.
   
Did you eat the grapes he asked the cows? No Farmer, we were suckling our calves in the barn.

Did you eat the grapes he asked the pigs? No Farmer, we were wallowing in the dam.

Did you eat the grapes he asked the chickens? No Farmer we were foraging in the field.

This went on with the horses, donkeys, sheep and ducks until he finally came to the three pesky goats.

He knew they were cunning and having such full looking stomachs, they could only be tricked into admitting they ate the grapes.
  
Well, said the farmer, I will need to ask the three wise goats for their help, as it seems no one here ate the grapes.

The first said,   I did not see anything farmer, but if you want my opinion, there were many birds about today.

The second said, I did not hear anything farmer, but if you want my opinion, there were many birds calling today.

The third with the largest stomach said, I cannot say anything farmer, but if you want my opinion, it’s such a pity your delicious grapes were eaten by the birds.

They must have been really hungry as they even ate the leaves!
  
The farmer had heard enough and the three wise goats were promptly locked in the barn until the harvest was completed ─ but their time was not wasted.

They were able to meditate and come up with a much better story for next year, but wise or not they got locked up each summer.
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