A GARDENER was once very tired of digging all day long. "It's unfair, just because a long time ago Adam happened to eat an apple, that we have to work so hard that we sweat all over", he used to say.

"Why do you blame Adam when you yourself would fall into the same temptation?", his master accused him.

"No, I would resist", the gardener replied.

His master then challenged him, inviting him over for dinner.

That night he prepared for his servant delicious dishes, which he served on big silver plates. At the center of the table he placed a dish, and covered it with a towel, giving his gardener a strict warning never to uncover it. "Eat as much as you want, and from any dish you like, but under no circumstances should you touch the dish at the center of the table". So, he left him alone.

The servant then ate whatever he could find: fish, chicken, cheese and salads. After devouring everything and seeing his belly bloat like a balloon, he got curious as to what was in the plate at the center of the table. "He most likely left apples for dessert, and told me to wait for him to come back so that he eats them alone", the servant said.

No sooner had he uncovered the plate, than a rat came out of it, which started running around in the house. The servant then went after the rat to catch it and return it to the plate before his master was back, only to realize that his belly was so swollen he could barely walk. The rat could run three times faster than him.

"Don't blame Adam again!", his master laughed at him as soon as he was back.