Hoca
THE POT THAT GAVE BIRTH
One day the Hodja borrowed a huge pot from his neighbor. Next day he returned it with a smaller pot inside. When questioned about it, he said:
"Ah, I forgot to tell you. you pot gave birth to that small one while it was with us."
His neighbor was amazed, but gladly accepted both the explanation and the baby pot.
Some days later the Hodja again required the same large pot from his neighbor, who lent it to him with alacrity. But this time and although several days had passed by, there was no word from the Hodja. After waiting for a few more days, the neighbor went around to the Hodja's door.
"Hodja Effendi, what has happened to that pot I lent you?" he asked.
"Why, didn't you hear the sad news?" the Hodja replied. "Your pot died the very night I borrowed it from you!"
"Come now, Hodja Effendi, you don't expect me to believe that a pot can die, do you?"
"Well, you are a funny one!" replied the Hodja. "You readily believed me when I said it had given birth to a baby pot, but now that I say it's dead, you have the effrontery to accuse me of lying!"
One day the Hodja borrowed a huge pot from his neighbor. Next day he returned it with a smaller pot inside. When questioned about it, he said:
"Ah, I forgot to tell you. you pot gave birth to that small one while it was with us."
His neighbor was amazed, but gladly accepted both the explanation and the baby pot.
Some days later the Hodja again required the same large pot from his neighbor, who lent it to him with alacrity. But this time and although several days had passed by, there was no word from the Hodja. After waiting for a few more days, the neighbor went around to the Hodja's door.
"Hodja Effendi, what has happened to that pot I lent you?" he asked.
"Why, didn't you hear the sad news?" the Hodja replied. "Your pot died the very night I borrowed it from you!"
"Come now, Hodja Effendi, you don't expect me to believe that a pot can die, do you?"
"Well, you are a funny one!" replied the Hodja. "You readily believed me when I said it had given birth to a baby pot, but now that I say it's dead, you have the effrontery to accuse me of lying!"
LAST HOPE
The Hodja had lost his donkey and was going about searching for it, at the same time singing gaily.
Someone couldn't help asking:
"It is funny hearing you sing, Hodja Effendi, when everyone knows you have lost your donkey. One would expect to hear you wailing and lamenting your loss!"
"My one last hope is that the dumb creature may be behind that hill yonder, my friend," replied the Hodja. "Wait and hear the wailing and lamenting if that shouldn't be the case
The Hodja had lost his donkey and was going about searching for it, at the same time singing gaily.
Someone couldn't help asking:
"It is funny hearing you sing, Hodja Effendi, when everyone knows you have lost your donkey. One would expect to hear you wailing and lamenting your loss!"
"My one last hope is that the dumb creature may be behind that hill yonder, my friend," replied the Hodja. "Wait and hear the wailing and lamenting if that shouldn't be the case
HOW TO SPREAD FLOUR ON A ROPE
One day a neighbor whom the Hodja did not like asked him for the loan of his rope. The Hodja went into the house, and after a time came back and said:
"Sorry, the rope is not available. My wife is spreading flour on it."
"What do you mean?" asked the surprised man. "How can flour be spread on a rope? You must be making fun of me!"
"No, I'm quite serious," replied the Hodja. "When I do not wish to lend somebody my rope, flour can easily be spread on it."
