In a city two beggars were rivals in their trade. One of them bit upon a novel plan to earn more money than the other. He presented to be dumb. He got a plate with the word ‘dumb’ painted on it and kept it hanging down his neck.
His plate -attracted people. He thus earned much more money than the other beggar. The other earned much less, though he shouted his loudest all the day. So he grew jealous of his rival and tried to expose him.
One day a kind gentleman saw the dumb beggar on the street. He was about to offer him a silver coin” The rival beggar saw it and cried out, ‘“Sir, he is not really dumb. He is a cheat.” At this the pretender became very angry and shouted at the top of his voice, “You liar, I have been dumb from my birth. I am so even now.”
The gentleman being astonished, said, “You may be dumb. But I won’t help a dumb man who can talk so well,”
