Template:Turnip farmer

The old turnip farmer has fallen upon hard times. His wife has died and his crop has failed.
One day, a local merchant visits him and asks to borrow some turnips. The old fellow shrugs, rummages around in his sack, and produces a couple of dried-up, cankered tubers.
“It isn’t much,” says the old man.
“It’s just what I need,” says the merchant.
“Well, it’s all have. You needn’t borrow it,” the old man says, “you can just have it.”
The merchant thanks him and bids him good-day.
“What did you do that for, Dad?” asks the merchant’s daughter, when he returns home that evening. “You don’t even like turnips. And you are very wealthy. You could buy all the turnips you could want from the grocer down the road. Why impose your will on that poor old farmer?”
“Because now I am in his debt,” replied the merchant, “and he needs feel no shame to ask a favour of me.”