eLong ago there lived a little maid who fell ill. Her father was very rich and he did everything he could for her.

One day she said: “If I only had some fresh figs I’m sure I’d feel better.”

Now it was in the month of January. It would be many long months before the fresh figs would be ripe. The rich man was greatly worried. Not even his fortune could ripen the figs, as he well knew.