Thomas Fougeirol and Esther Kläs at CLEARING

C L E A R I N G

is pleased to announce

STONE SOUP

An exhibition of new works by Thomas Fougeirol and Esther Kläs

Opening reception on Saturday, April 9th, from 4pm to 9pm.

The exhibition will continue from April 9 - May 16, 2011.

Open by appointment.

C L E A R I N G

505 Johnson Avenue

Brooklyn, NY, 11237

Find us

Contact us

+1 347 383 2256

justclearing@gmail.com

c-l-e-a-r-i-n-g.com

A tramp knocked at the farmhouse door.

"I can't let you in, for my husband is not at home,"

said the woman of the house.

"And I haven't a thing to offer you," she added.

Her voice showed unmasked scorn for the man she held to be a beggar.

"Then you could make use of my soup stone," he replied,

pulling from his pocket what appeared to be an ordinary stone.

"Soup stone?" said she, suddenly showing interest in the tattered stranger.

"Oh yes," he said. "If I just had a potful of water and a fire, I'd show you how it works.

This stone and boiling water make the best soup you've ever eaten."

The woman's suspicions yielded to her desire for an easy meal, and she opened the door.

A pot of water was soon brought to a boil.

The tramp dropped in his stone, then tasted the watery gruel.

"It needs salt, and a bit of barley," he said. "And some butter, too, if you can spare it."

The woman obliged him by adding the requested ingredients.

He tasted it again. "Much better!" he said.

"But a good soup needs vegetables and potatoes. Are there none in your cellar?"

"Oh yes," she said, her enthusiasm for the miracle soup growing,

and she quickly found a generous portion of potatoes, turnips, carrots, and beans.

After the mixture had boiled awhile, the man tasted it again.

"It's almost soup," he said.

"The stone has not failed us. But some chicken broth and chunks of meat would do it well."

The woman, recognizing the truth of his claim, ran to the chicken yard,

returning soon with a freshly slaughtered fowl.

"Soup stone, do your thing!" she said, adding the chicken to the stew.

When their noses told them that the soup was done,

the woman dished up a healthy portion for her guest and for herself.

"My thanks for the use of your pot and your fire,"

said the tramp as evening approached,

and he sensed that the husband soon would be arriving home.

He fished his stone from the bottom of the pot,

licked it clean, and put it back into his pocket.

"Do come again," said the thankful woman.

"I will indeed," said the tramp,

and disappeared into the woods.