One day, a rich farmer sent his farm-hand to the mountains for sticks.
He awoke him early in the morning and said,
'Don't wait for breakfast, take this cake not to feel empty.' And he gave the farm-hand a small dry cake.
'This cake will not fill a sparrow,' said the man. 'And it will take me the whole day to reach the mountains and to get back.'
'Walking is not working,' answered the master. 'It won't take you much time to gather sticks. As to the cake, it is dry. You can soften it in water so that it swells and grows in size. Then it will be enough for you to have a good feed.'
The poor man was starving to death on his way to the mountains. At last he put the cake into his mouth and even did not notice when he swallowed it up.
He reached the mountains and had a short rest. Then he tightened his belt so as not to feel gnawing hunger, picked up several sticks, tucked them under his arm and went back. He came back at dawn. The master saw three sticks and started scolding him.
'You, idle creature! You have eaten the cake but the sticks you brought are not enough even to make up the fire!'
'Why, they are dry!' said the farm-hand. "Soften them in water and you will have enough!'