Judging from the large numbers of copies that have survived to the modern day, this would appear to be a rather popular story dating from Dynasty IX. It tells the story of a peasant and his search for justice.
 

In the Salt Country there dwelt a sekhti (peasant) with his family. He made his living by trading with Henenseten in salt, natron, rushes, and the other products of his country, and as he journeyed thither he had to pass through the lands of the house of Fefa. Now there dwelt by the canal a man named Hemti, the son of Asri, a serf to the High Steward Meruitensa. Hemti had so far encroached on the path- for roads and paths were not protected by law in Egypt as in other countries- that there was but a narrow strip left, with the canal on one side and a cornfield on the other. When Hemti saw the sekhti approaching with his burdened asses, his evil heart coveted the beasts and the goods they bore, and he called to the gods to open a way for him to steal the possessions of the sekhti.

This was the plan he conceived. "I will take," said he, "a sheet, and will spread it upon the path. If the sekhti drives his asses over it- and there is no other way- then I shall easily pick a quarrel with him." He had no sooner thought of the project than it was carried into effect. A servant, at Hemti's bidding, fetched a sheet and spread it over the path so that one end was in the water, the other among the corn.

When the sekhti drew nigh he drove his asses over the sheet. He had no alternative.

"Hold!" cried Hemti with well simulated wrath, "surely you do not intend to drive your beasts over my cloth!"

"I will try to avoid them," responded the good natured peasant, and he caused the rest of his asses to pass higher up, among the corn.

"Do you, then, drive your asses through my corn?," said Hemti, more wrathfully than ever.

"There is no other way," said the harassed peasant. "You have blocked the path with your sheet, and I must leave the path."

While the two argued upon the matter one of the asses helped itself to a mouthful of corn, whereupon Hemti's plaints broke out afresh.

"Behold!" he cried, "your ass is eating my corn. I will take your ass, and he shall pay for the theft."

"Shall I be robbed, cried the sekhti, "in the lands of the Lord Steward Meruitensa who treats robbers so hardly? Behold, I will go to him. He will not suffer this misdeed of yours."

"Do you think that he will listen to your complaint?" sneered Hemti. "Poor as  you are, who will concern himself with your woes? Lo, I am the Lord Steward Meruitensa," and so saying he beat the sekhti sorely, stole all his asses and drove them into pasture.

In vain the sekhti wept and implored him restore his property. Hemti bade him hold his peace, threatening to send him to the Demon of Silence if he continued to complain. Nevertheless, the sekhti petitioned him for a whole day. At length, finding that he was wasting his breath, the peasant betook himself to Henennisut, there to lay his case before the Lord Steward Meritensa. On his arrival he found the latter preparing to embark in his boat, which was to carry him to the judgment hall. The sekhti bowed himself to the ground, and told the Lord Steward that he had a grievance to lay before him, praying him to send one of his followers to hear the tale. The Lord Steward granted the suppliant's request and sent to him one from among his train. To the messenger the sekhti revealed all that had befallen him on his journey, the manner in which Hemti had closed the path so as to force him to trespass on the corn, and the cruelty with which he had beaten him and stolen his property. In due time these matters were told to the Lord Steward, who laid the case before the nobles who were with him in the judgment hall.

"Let this sekhti bring a witness," they said, " and if he can establish his case, then he will recieve justice."

The sekhti could find no witnesses. And he returned to the Hall of Judgement. He praised Meritensa, "O my Lord, greatest of the great, friend of the poor. May you have good fortune wherever you may go. May you sail in fair weather, wherever you wish, and never experience fear, for truth shall bring you back to harbor. For you are the father to those that are orphaned, you are the widow's husband, the desolate woman's brother, the garment of the motherless. Let me sing your praises throughout the land, for you are a guide without thought of reward, a great one who is never greedy, one who destroys lies, loves justice, and hears the words of the most humble. Therefore hear my prayer, and give me true justice. Put an end to my oppression, restore that which has been stolen from me." And he said more, which the scribes wrote down.

Meritensa was delighted to hear this eloquent speech from a peasant. He said that he would consider the case, and that he would like to hear more on the next day.

Meritensa then hurried to the presence of the Son of Ra, Amenemhat. Meritensa said, "O Your Highness, life, health, and prosperity to you. I have found a sekhti who is wonderfully eloquent." And he told the king of his story.

After the scribes had read the sekhti's speech to the king, he exclaimed, "It is a joy to hear such eloquence. Do not give him justice, just yet. I want to hear more of his speeches. Have your scribes write down his words, and have these words brought to me. Make sure that he has a place to stay, and enough to eat. And take care of his wife and children.

The Lord Steward did as the king had commanded him. He gave to the peasant a daily ration of bread and beer, and to his wife sufficient corn to feed herself and her children. But the sekhti did not know where the provisions came from.

So, day after day, the sekhti returned to the Hall of Judgement. And each day, he praised Meritensa and the king. And each day, he pleaded for justice. And scribes recorded all of his words. But Meritensa pretended not to listen to him. Sekhti criticized Meritensa for not giving him justice, and Meritensa had him beaten for this.

On the ninth day, the sekhti was ready to give up. He gave one last speech. "O great one, you destroy evil and encourage that which is good. Your justice and mercy are like the plenty which drives away famine, they are like the clear sky that follows a storm, they are like water that quenches thirst. Give me justice for the wrong that was done to me."

When the sekhti saw that Meritensa did not respond, he left, dejected. Meritensa sent two men to go get the sekhti and return him to the Hall of Judgement. The sekhti feared that he was going to be beaten again, and perhaps killed. But, Meritensa said to him, "Fear not, sekhti. Your speeches have been read to the Good God, Amenemhat, may he live forever and ever. He has praised you. Come with me now to the palace, so that you may be rewarded."

Meruitensa therefore deprived Hemti of all his offices and his property, making him the poorest of all peasants, and gave them to the sekhti, who thenceforth dwelt at the king's palace with all his family. And the sekhti became the chief overseer of Amenemhat, and was greatly beloved by him.
 
 

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