Long, long ago, in a land far, far away, there lived a foolish king who believed that he alone should possess the power of magic.
So the king ordered the commander of his army to establish a witch-hunting squad and assigned them a pack of fierce black hounds. At the same time, he issued proclamations throughout the towns and countryside: "The king seeks a magic teacher."
No real wizard dared come forward to apply; they all hid from the witch-hunting squad. However, a cunning charlatan who knew no magic at all saw an opportunity to make a fortune. He came to the royal palace and claimed to be a highly skilled wizard. After performing a few simple tricks, the foolish king believed that he truly possessed magic and immediately appointed him Chief Grand Wizard and the king's personal magical master.
The charlatan asked the king for a large bag of gold, which he used to buy wands and other magical necessities. He also demanded several large rubies, claiming they were needed to complete a healing spell, as well as one or two silver goblets, supposedly for storing and brewing potions. The foolish king provided him with all these things.
The charlatan stored the treasures in his own home, then returned to the palace gardens.
He did not know that an old woman living in a little hut by the gardens was watching him. The old woman was named Babbitty. She was a laundress responsible for washing the palace's sheets and covers until they were soft, white, and fragrant. Peeking out from behind the drying sheets, Babbitty saw the charlatan snap two branches from one of the king's trees before entering the palace.
The charlatan handed one branch to the king and solemnly swore that it was an immensely powerful wand.