Every Saturday Old Brown went to the market to buy food and other things. He put them in a big basket, but he was old and weak. So he always paid another man to carry the basket home for him. But one Saturday, while he was walking home in front of the man with the basket, the man ran away with it.

 

　　The next Saturday, when Old Brown went to the market again, a friend of his said, "Look, there he is! The man who stole your things last week!"

 

　　Old Brown at once hid behind a shop, and stayed there until the man left the market.

 

　　His friend was very surprised.

 

　　"Why did you do that" he asked.

 

　　"Well," said Brown, "that man was carrying my basket when he left me a week ago. He wants me to pay him for seven days' work and that will cost me more than a basket full of things."