The Whole Cart | Ep. 243

Has anyone ever told you they’re “in your corner”?

If someone is “ in your corner,” it means they’re on your side, and they’ll help you out when times get tough.

We’re about to meet a character who is definitely in another character's corner – especially when he gets backed into a corner!

Our story is called "The Whole Cart.” We found versions of this tale from the South Asian country of India.

Voices in this episode include Joe Hernandez, Julia Chan and Hrishikesh Hirway.

You kids may recognize Julia Chan’s voice from the animated movie, “Extinct.”

You grown-ups may know her from her roles on "Saving Hope,” Archive 81” and “Bojack Horseman.” Hrishikesh Hirway hosts “Song Exploder”: both the podcast and the Netflix show. He also co-hosted the podcasts “Home Cooking” and “The West Wing Weekly.” His latest album as a singer-songwriter is called “Rooms I Used To Call My Own.”

And fun fact: Hrishikesh has appeared on many Circle Round episodes, including “The Head and the Heart” and “Misery Loves Company,” as well as three of our Live From Tanglewood episodes: “Fair-Feathered Friends,” “One Wish” and

“Fighting Like Cats and Dogs.”

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Sofie Kodner. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Now it’s your turn!

The seamstress was definitely in the woodcutter’s corner; she had his back, and was ready to jump in and help him out.

Think about someone who’s always been in your corner. Then find some paper and something to draw with, and make this person a thank-you card, expressing your gratitude for all they’ve done. Mail it to them or hand it to them in person, so they’ll know how much you appreciate their support!

Musical Spotlight: Bansuri

The ancient flute known as the bansuri comes from the Indian subcontinent. Originally made of bamboo, the six- or seven-hole instrument covers 2 ½ octaves of music and features no mechanical keys.

Since the bansuri doesn’t have any keys, you create the notes you want by covering and uncovering the various finger holes as you blow. In India, the bansuri is often revered as the divine instrument of the Hindu god Krishna.

You can also hear Eric Shimelonis play the bansuri in our season six episode, “The Parakeet’s Promise.”

Story Transcript:

NARRATOR: There once was a traveling merchant who went from country to country, town to town, buying and selling goods.

The traveling merchant made a very good living, and was a very wealthy man.

But as rich as he was in money, he was just as poor… in honesty.

Because the traveling merchant, you see, was a trickster. A rascally rogue with a devious scheme for making a profit. Wherever he went, he would trick his way into buying goods at bargain-basement prices… then he would turn around and sell those same goods at prices that were through the roof!

One day, the merchant arrived in a new town. He got himself a room at the inn, then shuffled off to the marketplace, where rows of vendors were hawking silks and spices, fabrics and fruits, trinkets and toys.

MERCHANT: Let’s see… How shall I make a profit today? Surely I can trick one of these vendors into selling me their goods at a ridiculously low price! The question is who???

NARRATOR: The merchant surveyed the bustling scene. His gaze fell on a man selling bundles of freshly-cut firewood out of an ox-drawn cart.

MERCHANT: (scheming) Hmmmm… A woodcutter, eh…? (beat) I believe I’ve found my next victim!

NARRATOR: The merchant rubbed his hands together with delight. Then he went sauntering toward the woodcutter and offered a friendly wave.

MERCHANT: Greetings, good woodcutter! Those are mighty fine logs you have in your cart! 

WOODCUTTER: Thank you, sir. I chopped them all today, then carted them from the forest.

MERCHANT: And how much are they?

WOODCUTTER: Two coins a bundle!

MERCHANT: I see…

NARRATOR: The merchant arched an eyebrow.

MERCHANT: And how much… for the whole cart?

NARRATOR: The woodcutter’s jaw fell open.

WOODCUTTER: The whole cart?!?? No one’s ever wanted to buy that much firewood before! I suppose I could sell you the whole cart for… (thinking it over) fifty coins, sir!

MERCHANT: Fifty coins for the whole cart?

NARRATOR: A glint came into the merchant’s eyes.

MERCHANT: (scheming) Very well! I’ll give you fifty coins for the whole cart! Deliver it to my inn in one hour, and I’ll deliver your payment. (beat) Now whaddya say we shake on the deal to make it official?

WOODCUTTER: Gladly, sir!

NARRATOR: The woodcutter smiled and held out his hand. The merchant gave it a strong shake. Then the rascally fellow turned and ambled away, his lips curled in a sly grin.

An hour later, when the woodcutter drove his ox-drawn cart to the inn, the merchant was waiting, with a small pouch in his hand.

MERCHANT: Hello again, my friend! You’re right on time. Here are your fifty coins.

WOODCUTTER: Thank you!

NARRATOR: The woodcutter stuffed the jingling pouch in his pocket and got to work unloading the firewood. Once it was all stacked in a neat pile, he climbed back into the cart and was about to drive away when…

MERCHANT: Not so fast!

WOODCUTTER: What’s the problem, sir?

MERCHANT: “What’s the problem”!??? The “problem” is, you were about to make off with my property!!

NARRATOR: The woodcutter blinked his eyes.

WOODCUTTER: (confused) I’m sorry, but “your property”!??? I’m leaving the firewood here, sir! I’m not “making off” with anything that’s “your property.”

NARRATOR: The merchant crossed his arms.

MERCHANT: Oh, really???? Then perhaps you forgot the deal we made in the marketplace…? The one we shook on just a short hour ago…?

WOODCUTTER: Of course I didn't forget! I said you could pay “fifty coins for the whole cart”! And “the whole cart” of firewood is stacked right there!

MERCHANT: But you didn’t promise me “the whole cart OF FIREWOOD”!  You promised me “the whole cart”! Period! So THAT’S what I get. The cart, the oxen, and, yes, the firewood.

NARRATOR: The woodcutter shook his head.

WOODCUTTER: But that wasn’t what I meant when I said “the whole cart”! No one in their right mind would sell all this firewood, plus a cart, AND two strong oxen, for just fifty coins!

MERCHANT: Well it appears you just did. And we shook on it! So the deal is done! (beat) You should have thought more carefully before you sold everything to me at such a bargain-basement price!

NARRATOR: The woodcutter felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He heaved a helpless sigh, stumbled out of the cart, and then… with his shoulders slumped and his eyes brimming with tears, he began the long walk back home.

Many miles – and many tears – later, he came trudging up to his little wooden house. His wife was in the kitchen, sewing. She was a seamstress by trade, and spent her days stitching gorgeously-crafted clothing for customers in town.

When the seamstress looked up and saw her husband’s sweat- and tear-stained face, she jumped up from her chair.

SEAMSTRESS: What’s the matter, sweetheart? Rough day at work?

WOODCUTTER: “ROUGH” day?!??

NARRATOR: The woodcutter wiped away a tear.

WOODCUTTER: I think it was my LAST day! (beat) I lost my cart, darling. AND my oxen! And it’s all because of that rascally merchant! (ad-lib crying)

NARRATOR: The woodcutter collapsed into the seamstress’s arms. She stroked her husband’s sweaty head.

SEAMSTRESS: Darling. You must tell me everything that happened to you. Everything!

NARRATOR: So the woodcutter took a deep breath, and told his wife everything. He described his encounter with the merchant… and how the mischievous scamp had taken advantage of him, by using his own words against him.

WOODCUTTER: Total disaster, right? Without my cart and oxen I can’t bring firewood to the marketplace each day! And you know we need both of our incomes to survive, my love! Whatever are we going to do?

NARRATOR: Now, it just so happens that the seamstress wasn't only known for her skill with a needle and thread. She was also known for her skill with solving problems!

And as the clever woman listened to her husband’s tale, her quick, cunning mind began devising a plan.

SEAMSTRESS: Listen, darling. I know exactly what we’re going to do. Leave everything to me. I promise you: I am going to teach that mischievous merchant a lesson. (dramatic) One he’ll NEVER FORGET!

[theme music in]

NARRATOR: What do you think the clever seamstress is cooking up?

We’ll find out, after a quick break.

[theme music out]

[BREAK]

[theme music in]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I’m Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “The Whole Cart.”

[theme music out]

NARRATOR: Before the break, a woodcutter was selling firewood from his ox-drawn cart at the marketplace, when a traveling merchant asked how much it would cost for “the whole cart.” The woodcutter said fifty coins and the merchant accepted.

But when the woodcutter delivered the firewood and got back in his cart, the merchant wouldn’t let him drive away!

MERCHANT: [SOT: reverb to denote flashback] You promised me “the whole cart”! So NOW, THAT’S what I get. The cart, the oxen, and, yes, the firewood.

NARRATOR: The woebegone woodcutter had to walk all the way home. The teary-eyed fellow told his wife the whole story, then went right to bed.

His wife, however, stayed up. She was a seamstress by trade, and by the light of her lamp she spent the entire night sewing as much clothing as she could: elegant dresses and dapper suits, stylish jackets and fashionable shirts.

By sunrise, she was all done. She found a big, roomy sack and stuffed the clothing inside. She also tossed in a pair of heavy-duty sewing shears. Then she hoisted the sack over her shoulder, and made the long walk to the marketplace.

By the time she got there, the place was already swarming with vendors and customers. And as she lay her handmade clothing on a display table, who should come waltzing over… but the merchant!

MERCHANT: Greetings, madam! Such beautiful clothing you’re selling! Did you make these garments yourself?

SEAMSTRESS: I did! I sewed each and every one by hand, using the finest materials.

MERCHANT: I see…

NARRATOR: The merchant stroked his chin.

MERCHANT: How much… for all of them?

SEAMSTRESS: All of them?

NARRATOR: The seamstress smiled.

SEAMSTRESS: You mean how much for every piece of clothing on this table?

MERCHANT: Yes! Every single garment.

NARRATOR: The seamstress paused. This was the moment she’d been waiting for.

SEAMSTRESS: To be honest, sir… no one has ever offered to buy all of my clothing before! But if you’d truly like to buy everything you see here, it’ll be… two handfuls of coins.

MERCHANT: Two handfuls of coins?

NARRATOR: The merchant cocked his head to one side.

MERCHANT: Very well! I’ll give you two handfuls of coins for all the garments! Deliver them to my inn in one hour, and I’ll deliver your payment. (beat) Now whaddya say we shake on the deal?

SEAMSTRESS: It would be my pleasure, sir!

NARRATOR: There was a mischievous gleam in the merchant’s eye as he shook the seamstress’s hand. Because as you’ve probably guessed, the swindling scoundrel was already cooking up another of his devious schemes.

Little did he know, the seamstress was concocting a scheme of her own!

An hour later, she showed up at the inn with her sack full of clothing. Waiting for her was the merchant, with both his hands balled into fists.

MERCHANT: Greetings, good seamstress! You’re right on time. Here is your payment.

NARRATOR: The merchant uncurled his fingers, revealing one big silver dollar in each hand. The silver dollars were so wide and round, each one took up his entire palm!

MERCHANT: You did say two handfuls of coins for every garment, yes? And as you can see, these silver dollars are so large, just one coin counts as a “handful”! So here you go. Take your payment!

NARRATOR: The seamstress stared at the merchant. Clearly, the simpering, smirking fellow was very pleased with himself.

But two could play at this game!

Slowly, she reached into her sack and pulled out the sewing shears. Then, she took a step toward the merchant.

MERCHANT: Ummm, seamstress? What are you doing?

SEAMSTRESS: What am I doing? You promised me two handfuls of coins! So I would argue that I get the coins AND the hands!

NARRATOR: The merchant gaped at the seamstress in horror.

MERCHANT: Are you serious? You’re going to take my hands?!??

SEAMSTRESS: What? I can’t honor a deal? (echoing MERCHANT’S earlier words) Or perhaps you forgot the deal we made in the marketplace…? The one we shook on just a short hour ago…?

NARRATOR: The merchant looked like he might pass out.

MERCHANT: No! I did NOT forget! (beat) But PLEASE!!

NARRATOR: He yanked his hands away.

MERCHANT: Don’t take my hands! I’ll give you anything you want! ANYTHING!

NARRATOR: The seamstress paused and put down her shears. Her bluff had worked! She would never EVER use her shears for anything other than cutting fabric and thread. Not in a million years! But just as she’d expected, the merchant had fallen for her trick.

SEAMSTRESS: Very well then. If you’ll really give me “anything,” then I want my husband’s cart back. And his oxen. You can keep the firewood.

NARRATOR: The merchant froze. A startled look of recognition dawned on his face.

MERCHANT: Your husband!?? His cart!??? His oxen?!?? So he must have told you how I – (gets cut off)

SEAMSTRESS: How you used your devious ways, your tricky technicalities, to rob an innocent, hardworking woodcutter of two of his most precious possessions? (beat) Yes! He told me everything. And now I want them back.

NARRATOR: And wouldn't you know it, she GOT them back. The merchant even threw in two handfuls of coins for good measure.

Two REAL handfuls.

The seamstress and the woodcutter lived the rest of their days in comfort and contentment. As for the merchant, he still did very well for himself. But he did so honestly, and fairly, so that everyone could truly take him at his word.