Page 14 - English Class 05

all were anxious to see how

bad or stupid their neighbours
were.

“I shall send my honest old

minister to the weavers,”
thought the emperor. “He can
judge best how the stuff looks,

for he is intelligent and nobody
understands his office better

than him.”

The good old minister went
into the room where the
swindlers sat before the empty

looms. “Heaven preserve us!” he
thought and opened his eyes wide, Do you like to wear new dresses daily?

“I cannot see anything at all,” but, he
did not say so. Both swindlers requested him to
come near and asked him if he did not admire the exquisite pattern and the beautiful

colours, pointing to the empty looms. The poor old minister tried his very best, but he
could see nothing as there was nothing to be seen. “Oh dear!” he thought, “Can I be so

stupid? I should never have thought so and nobody must know it! Is it possible that I
am not fit for my office? No, no, I cannot say that I was unable to see the cloth.”

“Now, have you got nothing to say?” said one of the swindlers, while they
pretended to be busy weaving.

“Oh, it is very pretty, exceedingly beautiful,” replied the old minister looking

through his glasses. “What a beautiful pattern, what brilliant colours! I shall tell the
emperor that I liked the cloth very much.”

“We are pleased to hear that,” said the two weavers and described to him the

colours and explained the curious pattern. The old minister listened attentively so that
he might relate to the emperor what they said; and so he did.

Now, the swindlers asked for more money, silk and gold-cloth, which they required
for weaving. They kept everything for themselves and not a thread came near the

loom, but they continued, as hitherto, to work at the empty looms.

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