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Have anyone ever told you they're in your corner? If someone is in your corner, it means they're
on your side and they'll help you out when times get tough. In today's story, one character is
definitely in another character's corner, especially when he gets back into a corner. I'm Rebecca
Shere and welcome to Circle Around, where story time happens all the time. Today our story is called
the whole cart. We found versions of this tale from the South Asian country of India.
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this
folktale, including Julia Chan and Rishikesh Heerway. Singer songwriter Rishikesh Heerway is host
and creator of the music podcast Song Exploder and the Netflix series of the same name.
You kids may recognize Julia Chan from the animated feature Extinct. You grown ups may know her
from TV shows like Saving Hope and Bojack Horsemen. So Circle Around everyone for the whole cart.
Their once was a traveling merchant who went from country to country town to town,
buying and selling goods. The traveling merchant made a very good living and was a very wealthy man,
but as rich as he was in money, he was just as poor in honesty because the traveling merchant you
see was a trickster, a rascally rogue with a devious scheme of making a profit wherever he went.
He would trick his way into buying goods at bargain basement prices, then he would turn around and sell
those same goods at prices that were through the roof. One day, the merchant arrived in a new town.
He got himself a room at the inn, then shuffled off to the marketplace, where rows of vendors
were hawking silks and spices, fabrics and fruits, trinkets and toys. Let's see.
How shall I make a profit today? Surely I can trick one of these vendors into selling me their goods
at a ridiculously low price. The question is, who? The merchant surveyed the bustling scene. His gaze
fell on a man selling bundles of freshly cut firewood out of an extra cart. A woodcutter, eh?
I believe I found my next victim. The merchant rubbed his hands together with delight,
then he went suntaring toward the woodcutter and offered a friendly wave.
Greetings, good woodcutter. Those are mighty fine logs you have in your cart.
Thank you, sir. I chop them all today, then carted them from the forest.
And how much are they?
The two coins of bundle. I see. The merchant arched an eyebrow.
And how much for the whole cart? The woodcutter's jaw fell open.
The whole cart? No one's ever wanted to buy that much firewood before.
I suppose I could sell you the whole cart for 50 coins, sir.
50 coins for the whole cart? A glint came into the merchant's eyes.
Very well. I'll give you 50 coins for the whole cart. Deliver to my inn in one hour and I'll
deliver your payment. Now what do you say we shake on the deal to make it official?
Gladly, sir.
The woodcutter smiled and held out his hand. The merchant gave it a strong shake.
Then the rascally fellow turned and ambled away. His lips curled in a sly grin.
An hour later, when the woodcutter drove his ox-drawn cart to the end,
the merchant was waiting with a small pouch in his hand.
Hello again, my friend. You're right on time. Here are your 50 coins.
Thank you.
The woodcutter's stuffed to the jingling pouch in his pocket and got to work unloading the firewood.
Once it was all stacked in a neat pile, he climbed back into the cart and was about to drive away when...
Not so fast. What's the problem, sir? What's the problem? The problem is you were about to make off with my property.
The woodcutter blinked his eyes. I'm sorry, but your property? I'm leaving the firewood here, sir.
I'm not making off with anything that's your property. The merchant crossed his arms.
Oh, really? Then perhaps you forgot the deal we made in the marketplace. The one we shook on just a short hour ago.
Of course I didn't forget. I said you could pay 50 coins for the whole cart, and the whole cart of firewood is stacked right there.
But you didn't promise me the whole cart of firewood. You promised me the whole cart, period.
So that's what I get. The cart, the oxen, and yes, the firewood.
The woodcutter shook his head. But that wasn't what I meant when I said the whole cart.
No one in their right mind would sell all this firewood plus a cart and two strong oxen for just 50 coins.
Well, it appears you just did. And we shook on it. So the deal is done.
You should have thought more carefully before you sold everything to me at such a bargain basement price.
The woodcutter felt a knot tightened in his stomach. He heaved a helpless sigh, stumbled out of the cart.
And then with his shoulders slumped and his eyes brimming with tears, he began the long walk back home.
Many miles and many tears later, he came trudging up to his little wooden house.
His wife was in the kitchen sewing. She was a seamstress by trade and spent her days stitching
gorgeously crafted clothing for customers in town. When the seamstress looked up and saw her husband sweat
and tear-stained face, she jumped up from her chair.
What's the matter, sweetheart? Rough day at work?
Rough day. The woodcutter wiped away a tear.
I think it was my last day. I lost my cart darling and my oxen. And it's all because of that rascally merchant.
The woodcutter collapsed into the seamstresses' arms. She stroked her husband's sweaty head.
Darling! You must tell me everything that happened to you. Everything.
So the woodcutter took a deep breath and told his wife everything. He described his encounter with the merchant
and how the mischievous scamp had taken advantage of him by using his own words against him.
Total disaster, right? Without my cart and oxen, I can't bring firewood to the marketplace each day.
And do you know we need both of our incomes to survive my love?
Whatever are we going to do?
Now, it just so happens that the seamstress wasn't only known for her skill with a needle and thread.
She was also known for her skill with solving problems.
And as the clever woman listened to her husband's tale, her quick, cunning mind began devising a plan.
Listen, darling. I know exactly what we're going to do. Leave everything to me. I promise you, I am going to teach that mischievous merchant a lesson.
One he'll never forget.
What do you think the clever seamstress is cooking up? We'll find out after a quick break.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Sheer. Today, our story is called The Whole Cart.
Before the break, a woodcutter was selling firewood from hisock strong cart at the marketplace
when a traveling merchant asked how much it would cost for the whole cart.
The woodcutter said 50 coins and the merchant accepted. But when the woodcutter delivered the
firewood and got back in his cart, the merchant wouldn't let him drive away. You promised me the whole cart.
So that's what I get. The cart, the oxen, and yes, the firewood.
The woe began woodcutter had to walk all the way home. The teary-eyed fellow told his wife the
whole story then went right to bed. His wife, however, stayed up. She was a seamstress by trade,
and by the light of her lamp, she spent the entire night sewing as much clothing as she could,
elegant dresses and dapper suits, stylish jackets and fashionable shirts.
My son rise, she was all done. She found a big roomy sack and stuffed the clothing inside.
She also tossed in a pair of heavy duty sewing shears. Then she hoisted the sack over her shoulder
and made the long walk to the marketplace. By the time she got there, the place was already
swarming with vendors and customers. And as she lay her handmade clothing on a display table,
who should come waltzing over but the merchant?
Greetings, madam. Such beautiful clothing you're selling. Did you make these garments yourself?
I did. I sewed each and every one by hand using the finest materials.
I see. The merchant stroked his chin. How much for all of them?
All of them? The seamstress smiled.
You mean how much for every piece of clothing on this table?
Yes, every single garment.
The seamstress paused. This was the moment she'd been waiting for.
To be honest, no one has ever offered to buy all of my clothing before.
But if you truly like to buy everything you see here, it'll be
two handfuls of coins. Two handfuls of coins?
The merchant cocked his head to one side.
Very well. I'll give you two handfuls of coins for all the garments.
Deliver them to my inn in one hour and I'll deliver your payment.
Now, what do you say we shake on the deal?
It would be my pleasure, sir. There was a mischievous gleam in the merchant's eye as he shook the seamstress's hand.
Because, as you've probably guessed, the swindling scoundrel was already cooking up another of his
devious schemes. Little did he know. The seamstress was concocting a scheme of her own.
An hour later, she showed up at the inn with her sack full of clothing.
Waiting for her was the merchant, with both his hands bowled into fists.
Greetings, good seamstress. You're right on time. Here is your payment.
The merchant uncurled his fingers, revealing one big silver dollar in each hand.
The silver dollars were so wide and round, each one took up his entire palm.
You did say two handfuls of coins for every garment, yes?
And as you can see, these silver dollars are so large, just one coin counts as a handful.
So here you go. Take your payment.
The seamstress stared at the merchant.
Clearly, the simpering, smirking fellow was very pleased with himself,
but two could play at this game. Slowly, she reached into her sack and pulled out the sewing sheers.
Then she took a step toward the merchant.
Aum, seamstress. What are you doing?
You promised me two handfuls of coins. So I would argue that I get the coins and the hands.
The merchant gaped at the seamstress in horror.
Are you serious? You're going to take my hands?
What? I can't honor a deal.
What perhaps you forgot the deal we made in the marketplace.
The one we shook on just a short hour ago.
The merchant looked like he might pass out.
No, I did not forget.
But please.
He yanked his hands away.
Don't take my hands. I'll give you anything you want. Anything.
The seamstress paused and put down her sheers. Her bluff had worked.
She would never, ever use her sheers for anything other than cutting fabric and thread.
Not in a million years.
But just as she'd expected, the merchant had fallen for her trick.
Very well then. If you'll really give me anything,
then I want my husband's cart back and his oxen.
You can keep the firewood.
The merchant froze a startled look of recognition,
dawned on his face.
Your husband.
His cart, his oxen.
So he must have told you how I'd used your devious ways,
your tricky technicalities to rub an innocent,
hardworking woodcutter of two of his most precious possessions.
Yes, he told me everything.
And now I want them back.
And wouldn't you know it? She got them back.
The merchant even threw in two handfuls of coins for good measure.
Two real handfuls.
The seamstress and the woodcutter lived the rest of their days in comfort and contentment.
As for the merchant, he still did very well for himself.
But he did so honestly and fairly so that everyone could truly take him at his word.
Now it's your turn.
The seamstress was definitely in the woodcutter's corner.
She had his back and was ready to jump in and help him out.
Think about someone who's always been in your corner.
Then find some paper and something to draw with and make this person a thank you card,
expressing your gratitude for all they've done.
Mail it to them or hand it to them in person so they'll know how much you appreciate their support.
This week's episode, The Whole Cart was adapted by me Rebecca Shere.
It was edited by Sophie Coddner, our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
Our artist is Sabina Han. Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all 200 plus
circle round stories and you can print them out and color them in.
Ground up, so visit our website, wbur.org slash circle round and click on coloring pages.
Special thanks to this week's actors Joe Hernandez, Julia Chan and Rishikesh Heerway.
You kids may recognize Julia Chan's voice from the animated movie Extinct.
You grown up, Sabina, her from her roles on Saving Hope, Archive 81 and Bojack Horseman.
Rishikesh Heerway hosts Song Exploder, both the podcast and Netflix show.
He also co-hosted the podcast's Home Cooking and the West Wing Weekly.
His latest album as a singer-songwriter is called Rooms I Used to Call My Own.
Our featured instrument this week was the Bonsery.
To learn more about this bamboo flute from India and to see a picture of Eric Shimalonis playing it,
visit our website. Once more, that's wbur.org slash circle round.
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It helps other listeners find the show. Circle round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR
News Station. I'm Rebecca Sheer. Thanks for circling round with us. Now that you've made it to the end
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