THE MISSING COMB  
(From Stories of Wit and Humor, The Grand-Old-Man)

  
One day Mutta was out on another errand with his band. They had to walk through a piece of shrub
 jungle overlaid with shrubs and tall grass. Mutta’s comb fell among the shrubs. The five men did nothing to pick it up; since no instructions were given in the book for such an event.

  Mutta often stroked his beard and felt round his head, soothing and feeling it over and over. This time he suddenly realized that his precious comb was missing.

  He turned to the men and asked, “Listen all of you, my comb is missing. I have dropped it somewhere. Did any of you find it?” asked Mutta quite anxious and worried that he had lost his beloved comb.
  “Yes master, it fell down, we all saw it,” shouted the men.

  “You foolish set of buffoons, why didn’t you pick it up?” reprimanded the Master quite angry about it.

  “You have never given us instructions to pick up things when they fall down. Have you?” answered the men quite complacent and satisfied with their reply.

  “You cranky heads, do you need instructions to pick up anything that falls to the ground accidentally.” Blared the Master. “Bring me that Ola-Leaf book and stylus,” he beckoned to one of the men. Then he wrote, Now then, whatever falls to the ground should be picked up.

  Soon the Master and the men were on their way. The foolish men now started picking up every bit of dirt and dust, bits and pieces of paper and rags that were on their way, filling up the old man’s traveling bag.

  Tired of walking, Mutta and his troopers sat down by a nearby stream to rest and relax, and have a drink of water.

  “Bring me my traveling bag,” Mutta ordered one of the men. “I want to chew some beetle.” he said, and grabbed the bag. He stared! Mutta was stunned! It turned out a bulging bin of pure rubbish.

  Mutta’s face swiveled up, “Gosh! What a set of donkeys I have,” muttered the Master. “Give it to me here the book, that I may write down next, what it is that you fools are supposed to pick up” said the old man, looking terribly irritated.

  With one stroke of the stylus he wrote, Comb, Walking Stick, Beetle purse. Eye-glasses and so on, the few important things he was in the habit of carrying everywhere he went. Mutta read out the list as serious as ever, showing that he meant it all. The men gaped, mouths hanging and wide open, and listened to him with wide-eyed attention.