There once lived a man by the name of Juan, who did nothing but fool people all the time. Once, when he had only seventy pesos left in his pockets, he determined¹ to resort to the following scheme: he bought a balangut hat (a very cheap straw), and painted it five different colors. In the town where Juan was [354]to operate, there were only three stores. He went to each one of them and deposited² twenty pesos, saying to the owner of each, “I will deposit³ twenty pesos in your store, and to-morrow afternoon I will bring some friends here with me. We will perhaps take some refreshments⁴ or buy some goods, but in any case I will see to it that the total amount of the things we take is not over the twenty pesos. Then, when we leave, do not ask me to pay you for the things. I will simply make you a bow with my hat, and your attendants⁵ should thank me with much courtesy⁶. That mere⁷ bow with my hat is to be the payment. You may keep the twenty pesos, but you must also keep this little plan a secret.” The owners of the three stores promised.

 

The next day Juan was walking in the street with his painted hat on, when one of his friends met him. “Halloo, Juan!” exclaimed his friend, “where did you get that funny hat?”

 

Juan looked serious, and said, “Don’t be foolish! Don’t you know that this hat is the only means I have of earning a living?”

 

“Means of living?” returned the other.

 

“Why, of course. I can go in any store, take anything I please, and pay for it with a mere bow of my hat.”

 

By this time two other friends of Juan had come along, and they too were surprised to see what Juan had on his head. To convince them of the marvellous character of the hat, Juan took his friends to one of the stores. There they sat down, and Juan ordered some refreshments. They ate much, and of the best that the store could furnish. After they had had enough, Juan stood up, made a bow to the

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