The Old Man and the Devil

By Stephen D. Rogers

An old man was planting beans in the forest when the devil stopped and asked how the two of them were going to split the coming harvest.

The old man said, "I'll take everything above the ground and you take everything below."

The devil thought for a moment and agreed.

When harvest arrived, the old man collected the beans and left the devil with nothing but roots.

The following year, the old man planted turnips.

Again the devil stopped and asked how they were going to split the harvest.

The old man said, "This time, you take everything above the ground and I'll take everything below."

The devil, remembering how he had fared the previous year, agreed to the changes.

When harvest arrived, the old man collected the turnips and left the devil with nothing but leaves.

The following year, the old man planted peas.

The devil was strangely absent.