Cauldron

Cauldron

Nasreddin Hodja had borrowed a cauldron from his neighbor. When he did not return it for a long time, the neighbor came knocking on the door.

“Hodja Effendi, if you are finished with the cauldron could I take it back? The wife needs it today.”

“Ah, of course,” Hodja said, “just wait a minute and I’ll fetch it.”

When Hodja came back to the door with the cauldron, the neighbor noticed that there was a small pot in it.

“What is it?”

“Well, neighbor, congratulations, your cauldron gave birth to a baby pot,” said Hodja.

The neighbor, incredulous, yet delighted, thanked Hodja, took his cauldron and the new little pot, and went home.

A few weeks after this incident, one day Hodja came again, asking to borrow the cauldron. The neighbor didn’t even hesitate and lent Hodja the cauldron with pleasure. However, once more it was taking Hodja forever to return it back. The neighbor had no choice but to go asking for it again.

“Hodja Effendi, are you done with the cauldron?”

Ahh neighbor, ahh, bemoaned Hodja, “I’m afraid your cauldron is dead.”

“Hodja Effendi,that’s not possible, a cauldron can’t die!” exclaimed the disbelieving neighbor. But Nasreddin Hodja has his answer ready.

“My dear fellow, you can believe that it can give birth, why can’t you believe that it can also die?”