Section 64
The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A , however, happened to come and settle in the same neighbourhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better that...
Read full original text in reading mode
Public-domain original
There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself.
A , however, happened to come and settle in the same
neighbourhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance
and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would
come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better
that way," he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be
diminished." The Fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn't think
of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be
blackened in no time by your charcoal."
Public-domain original text shown for study context. Underlined terms can be tapped for simple reader notes.
What happens here
A charcoal-burner invites a fuller to live with him, but their work would ruin each other’s results.
Why this scene matters
This fable shows that not every partnership works, even when both sides mean well.
Characters in this scene
- Charcoal-Burner: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Fuller: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
Two tradesmen consider sharing a home. The fuller realizes the charcoal-burner’s work would stain what he tries to clean.