Doctor Knowall
Long ago, there lived a poor farmer named Crabb who had a pair of oxen. One day, he traveled to the town to sell a load of wood to a doctor for two talers. As the doctor counted the money, Crabb saw how well he ate and drank, and he wished he could live such a lavish life too. So, he asked the doctor if he could become a doctor too. The doctor replied, "Certainly, that is easily done. What do you need to do?",asked the peasant. The doctor replied, "First, you must purchase an ABC book with a rooster on the front cover. Secondly, you must sell your cart and oxen and use the money to buy clothes and everything else required for medicine. Thirdly, you should have a sign made with the words 'I am Doctor Knowall' and hang it above your house's entrance."
The peasant, following the doctor's instructions, bought an ABC book with a rooster on the cover, sold his cart and oxen, and used the money to buy medical supplies and clothes. After practicing medicine for a short while, a wealthy lord had some money stolen and was informed about Doctor Knowall who lived in a nearby village and might be able to help find the stolen money. The lord went to the village and asked Crabb if he was Doctor Knowall, to which he replied in the affirmative. The lord then requested Crabb to accompany him and find the stolen money. However, Crabb insisted that his wife, Grete, should also accompany him.
After the lord agreed to let both Crabb and his wife join him in the carriage, they headed to the nobleman's castle. Upon arrival, Crabb was invited to sit and eat at the table, but he insisted that his wife Grete should also join. As the first servant brought a dish of delicious food, Crabb nudged his wife and whispered that it was the first dish. He was referring to the servant who brought the first dish.As each servant brought in a dish, the peasant nudged his wife and whispered which number servant it was. The first servant thought the peasant was accusing him of being the thief, which made him fearful. He told his colleague outside that the doctor knew everything and they would be in trouble because he had accused him of being the first. The second servant was also scared when the peasant identified him as the second servant. The third servant had the same experience when the peasant identified him as the third. The fourth servant had to bring in a dish that was covered, and the lord asked the doctor to guess what was beneath it. The doctor had no idea, and when the cover was removed, there were crabs inside. The doctor looked at the dish and exclaimed, "Oh, poor Crabb!" When the lord heard this, he was convinced that the doctor knew who had stolen the money.
The servants became very nervous when the doctor identified them as thieves, and signaled him to step outside. They then confessed to him that they had stolen the money, and offered to return it and give him a large sum of money if he would not report them and have them hanged. The doctor agreed to their offer and they showed him where the money was hidden. The doctor then returned to the hall, sat down at the table, and said to the lord that he would use his knowledge to locate the hidden gold.The curious fifth servant hid in the stove to eavesdrop on Dr. Knowall, who appeared to be searching for something in his abc book. Unable to find what he was looking for, the doctor said he knew the servant was there and instructed him to come out. The terrified servant mistakenly thought that the doctor knew he had stolen the money and cried out that he knew everything. Dr. Knowall then revealed to the lord where the money was hidden, but did not expose the thieves' identities. As a result, he was rewarded with a substantial sum of money from both the lord and the servants and became a respected and well-known figure.
