Parables

THE GIANT TURNIP

by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy, edited by Alison Chaplin

Once, not too long ago, a farmer planted a turnip on his farm. The turnip grew, and grew, and grew some more until it was enormous. It was the biggest turnip anyone had ever seen! The farmer tried to pull the turnip out of the ground but it wouldn’t move. He pulled and pulled, but it was just too big for one man alone. So he called his wife for help.

The farmer’s wife took hold of the farmer around his waist. The farmer took hold of the turnip and they pulled and pulled, but could not pull it out of the ground. The turnip was just too big. So the farmer’s wife called her granddaughter to help.

The granddaughter took hold of the farmer’s wife around her waist, the farmer’s wife took hold of the farmer, the farmer took hold of the turnip and they all pulled and pulled. But the turnip was just too big and they could not pull it out. So the granddaughter called the dog over to help.

The dog took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the farmer’s wife, the farmer’s wife took hold of the farmer, the farmer took hold of the turnip and they all pulled and pulled and pulled. But still they could not pull the turnip out. So the dog called the cat over to help.

The cat took hold of the dog, the dog took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the farmer’s wife, the farmer’s wife took hold of the farmer, the farmer took hold of the turnip and they all pulled and pulled and pulled. But still they could not pull the turnip out. So the cat called the mouse over to help.

The mouse took hold of the cat, the cat took hold of the dog, the dog took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the farmer’s wife, the farmer’s wife took hold of the farmer and the farmer took hold of the turnip. They all pulled and pulled and pulled some more and finally… out came the turnip and everyone fell over!

When they had all dusted themselves down the farmer said thank you to his wife, the farmer’s wife said thank you to her granddaughter, the granddaughter said thank you to the dog, the dog said thank you to the cat and the cat said thank you to the mouse. The farmer said, “I could not have done that without all of you helping me.” The old woman made a wonderful turnip soup to share and everyone was very happy.