Jane, Jane, Don't Complain

An ancient Nordic king once overheard a husband and wife loudly complaining about being poor while they were picking up firewood in a forest. The king listened as they blamed their state on the king, Adam and Eve — anyone and anything except for their own laziness. So opens the tale of Jane, Jane, Don't Complain.

To teach the pair a lesson, the King offers to host them in his castle and provide everything their heart might desire: fine food, clothing, drink. In return, all they had to do was never lift the cover of a particular silver dish.

For the first few days, following the King’s order was easy. As soon as they tired of admiring themselves in their new clothes, overeating, and napping, the complaining started again. By day three, complaining Jane lifted the silver dish cover over her husband’s objections.

Nothing much happens except a little white mouse escapes. Until, that is, the king strips complaining Jane and her husband of their finery and hustles them home in a hurry.

Jay Van Everen illustrated this story in 1922, and the image has lost none of its energy. The kind of accent sure to generate questions, always a great conversation piece.