Here is the story of Compère Jak, who went to visit one of his friends and brought along his companion, Filip. The host gave each of them an egg. After they had finished talking, they parted ways. Filip boiled his egg and ate it, while Compère Jak kept his egg warm. Inside, he found a small chick. The chick grew, and it gave Compère Jak many more chicks. He sold them and used the money to buy a cow. When Filip heard of the wealth that came from Jak’s egg, he became jealous and took Jak to court, demanding that Jak share his riches.
Oh my! The case became a big issue, and judges and lawyers became involved. A date was set for the trial. When the day arrived, everyone was already at the court except for Compère Jak. Finally, he was seen running toward the court, sweating heavily. The crowd watched him as he arrived. The judge called out to him, asking: “Why is it that everyone has been here since early morning, and you only just show up?” Compère Jak replied, “It’s not my fault, Your Honor. Since this morning, I’ve been boiling beans to plant tomorrow, if God wills.” The judge scoffed, “Oh! You must be joking. Since when do boiled beans rise?” Jak answered, “Well, Your Honor, if boiled beans can’t rise, then boiled eggs can’t make anyone rich either.”
The courtroom erupted in noise, and the people cheered, amazed by how Compère Jak had won the case. As I was passing through, someone gave me a little kick, which is how I ended up here, and now I can share this story with you.
Context and Lesson:
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This story is a playful yet insightful commentary on patience, wisdom, and the importance of effort versus envy.
Compère Jak represents the idea of investing in something small, nurturing it, and patiently letting it grow into something valuable. His boiled egg turned into a chick, which he raised into a source of wealth through hard work and foresight.
Filip, on the other hand, is driven by jealousy and greed. Instead of appreciating Jak’s success or learning from his example, Filip tries to take shortcuts and demands Jak share his wealth.
The court scene emphasizes that wisdom and patience are key to prosperity. The judge’s mockery of Jak’s explanation about boiling beans highlights how those who act out of envy or greed often fail to see the value in slow, steady growth and instead seek quick, unsustainable gains.
The final punchline—Jak’s clever reply about boiled beans not rising—drives home the idea that just as a boiled egg cannot magically provide riches without effort, neither can shortcuts or jealousy bring lasting success. In the end, those who work diligently and wisely are more likely to succeed than those who rush or covet others’ fortunes.
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