A young Yankee came to propose to the daughter of a rich farmer. He had already talked about everything with his beloved and now came, according to all the rules, to his father.
The conversation for young Jonathan—as all Yankees are jokingly called—was not an easy one, and in his excitement he whittled away at the cane he held in his hands with a knife. The old farmer listened to the young man and carefully watched his movements. He whittled and whittled the cane until only shavings remained on the floor. And the father said:
“Well, young man, I see that you are wealthy, strict in customs, and good-looking, but I still won’t give up my daughter for you.” If you could whittle something useful out of your cane, you would have my daughter. And you just harassed her. In the same way, you will waste your fortune bit by bit until there is nothing left of it, and your family will fall into need. I definitely read your character. Here's my answer.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru