Once upon a time there was a farmer and his wife who farmed their land well and lived very contentedly.
One sunny spring day, the farmer sowed some turnip seeds in neat rows. He watered them daily and little plants burst through the ground and grew rapidly.
One plant grew very quickly and soon became extremely large. Everyone marveled at the size of the turnip. It dwarfed the other plants and its turnip was simply enormous.
Turnip for dinner
One day, the farmer thought that it would be nice to have some turnip for his dinner. He went to uproot the enormous turnip. He gathered the huge leaves in his hands and pulled to uproot the enormous turnip. But though the farmer pulled with all his might and main, the enormous turnip could not be pulled up.
The farmer called his wife to help him. She came and put her hand round his waist and held him tight. They pulled and tugged and pulled with all their might but the enormous turnip would not budge an inch.
The farmer’s wife asked a little boy who was passing by to help them to pull up the enormous turnip. The boy came and held the farmer’s wife around her waist.
All three of them pulled and tugged as hard as they could but the enormous turnip did not move an inch.
Little girl
The little boy then called a little girl he knew to help them to pull up the enormous turnip. The little girl came and held on to the boy’s shirt.
The farmer, his wife, the boy and girl held on to each other and pulled as hard as they could but the enormous turnip did not move an inch.
The little girl then went and asked a big dog to help them to uproot the enormous turnip. The dog came and took hold of the little girl’s belt. They all pulled and pulled but the enormous turnip could not be pulled up.
The dog asked a black cat to help them/ The cat took hold of the dog’s tail. The farmer, his wife, the boy, the girl, the dog and the cat pulled with all their might and main but the enormous turnip stayed where it was.
The black cat asked a tiny mouse to help them. The mouse held on to the cat’s tail.
Mighty jerk
They all pulled and pulled and suddenly, with a big swoosh and a mighty jerk the enormous turnip came up. It fell on top of the farmer.
The force of its jerk flung all who pulled it up backwards and they all fell on top of each other.
They were out of breath but quickly recovered and stood up and gazed at the enormous turnip lying on its side.
The farmer started to laugh and the others joined in. They laughed and laughed till tears rolled down their cheeks.
The farmer his wife, the boy and girl, the dog, the cat and the mouse carried the enormous turnip to the farmhouse kitchen. The farmer’s wife cut the enormous turnip and cooked a delicious turnip stew for dinner. Everyone enjoyed the turnip stew but they could not finish it.
There was enogh stew for the next day and the day after.
Thus, ended the tale of the enormous turnip.