Grandmother's Basket -- a Tale from Germany

When Grandmother returns from Sunday service, her grand-daughter asks: "Grandma, what was the father preaching about in his sermon today?"
Grandmother shakes her head, "I can't remember, dear..." The girl, annoyed, returns "But then, why do you go to church at all when you don't remember what's said there!"
Grandmother smiles and empties her knitting basket. She hands it to the girl: "Please go and fetch me water!"
"In this basket, Grandma? Impossible! With all the gaps and cracks, it won't even hold a thimble full!"
Grandma, still smiling, says "Please!"
And the girl, though angry about this stupid old woman, goes and does as bidded. She returns, triumphantly: "I knew it, there won't stay a drop in it!"
Grandmother takes the basket and looks at it, scrutinizing: "But it is cleaner now, can't you see?"



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