The North Wind's Gifts

Once upon a time there was a woman who had one son. As she was old and feeble, her son had to go to the store-house to fetch the meal for their porridge.

As he was leaving the store-house with a bag of meal on his back, up came the North Wind puffing and blowing. He caught up the meal and away he went with it through the air.

The lad went back into the store-house for more; but when he came out again on the steps, the North Wind carried off the meal as he had done before. More than that, he did so the third time.

At this the lad became very angry and made up his mind to go and see the Nor Wind, so that he might ask him to give bad the meal.

The way was long and he walked and walked but at last he came to the North Wind's house ' Good-day,' said the lad, 'and thank you for coming to see us yesterday.'

Good-day,' answered the North Wind. and his voice was loud and gruff. ' Thanks for coming to see me. What do you want? '

'Oh,' replied the lad, ' I only wished to ask you to give me back the meal which you took from me yesterday. You see we haven't much to live on, and if you snap up the little that we have, we shall starve without a doubt.'

I haven't got your meal,' declared the North Wind. ' However, if you are in such need, here is a cloth which will provide everything you want if you only say, " Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes! "

The lad was very well pleased at this. As the way home was long and he could not reach there in one day, he turned into an inn for the night. When he was going to sit down the supper, he laid the cloth on a table in the cornea and said, ' Cloth, spread yourself and serve up all kinds of good dishes! '

He had scarcely spoken when the cloth did as it was bidden. The table was covered wit splendid food of every kind.

All who stood by thought what a fine clot this was, but most of all the inn-keeper's wife So in the middle of the night when everyone was fast asleep, she took the lad's cloth an put another just like it in its place. Yet the cloth could not serve up so much as a bit of dry bread.

When the lad woke he took the cloth an went off with it, and that day he reached his mother's home.

' Now,' said he, ' I've been to the North Wind's house. A good fellow he is too, for he gave me this cloth. When I say to it, " Cloth, spread yourself and serve up all kinds of goo dishes! " it provides any sort of food I want,

' All very true I dare say,' said his mother but I shall not believe it till I see it.'

So the lad made haste, laid the cloth on the table and said, ' Cloth, spread yourself an serve up all kinds of good dishes! ' Yet never a bit of dry bread did the cloth serve up.

' Did I not say that seeing is believing said the boy's mother.

' Well, there's no help for it but to go to the North Wind again,' said the lad; and away he went.

1. Why did the boy visit the North Wind?

2. What gift did the North Wind give him?

3. What happened to this gift?

A Monkey and Two Cats

Once a cake was stolen by two cats from a house. But they did not want to share it.

Each of the cats claimed that it was his earning and that he was not prepared to give a share to the other. When their quarrel reached the climax, a monkey appeared on the scene. He offered himself to solve the dispute. He heard the case and opined that as they were good friends, they should share the cake equally. And he offered himself to divide the cake into two equal parts for them.

Somehow the cats agreed to his suggestion. Then the monkey took and 'divided the cake into two parts. He weighed each of the parts separately, and found that one was heavier than the other. So he gave a good bite to the heavier piece to make it of lesser weight, and weighed it again. Now he found the other part heavier. So again, he gave a good bite to the heavier piece and put it one the scale. Now it appeared to be of lesser weight. Again, he gave a good bite to the presently heavier piece to make it equal in weight to the other. But none of the two pieces appeared to be perfectly equal in weight.

Now the cake was almost eaten up by the clever monkey this Way. So the cats wanted the remaining parts back from the monkey. At this, the monkey said that they cannot get them back, because he claims them as remuneration for his service to them. So saying, the monkey swallowed the tuning two small pieces of the cake and jumped high to of a tree, beyond the reach of the cats.

Grapes Are Sour

Once a hungry fox went about in search of food and reached a vineyard. He stopped near one of the trees that bore beautiful ripe grapes which were hang­ing in bunches. His mouth watered. He thought that he would eat the ripe grapes to satisfy his hunger.

So he tried to catch hold of the grapes. He jumped as high as possible to hold at least one of the bunches which was not so high. But still it was beyond his reach. When his repeated efforts failed to get even a single grape, he was upset.

So he consoled himself by thinking that these grapes must be sour, which he should not taste. And it is better to leave the vineyard and look for food somewhere else. So the fox went away.

Lion and the Mouse

Part of a story is given below: you have to complete it. Once a lion was sleeping in a jungle. He was woken up by a mouse. The lion became angry. The mouse pleaded for his life. He promised to help the lion. The lion let it go. Once the lion got caught in a trap.

Once there lived a lion. He was sleeping under a shady tree. A mouse lived in a hole nearby. It came out of its hole. It began to move up and down on the body of the lion. The lion woke up from his sleep. He was very angry. He wanted to kill the mouse. The mouse prayed for its life. It said, "Please spare my life. I will pay back your kindness". The lion took pity and set the mouse free.

One day, the lion was caught in a net. He began to roar. The little mouse heard his roar and came there. It saw the lion caught in a net. It cut the net with its sharp teeth. The lion was free. He thanked the little mouse for its timely help.

Moral: Do well and have well.

The Farm Dog and the Wolf

The dog replied that he kept watch over the farm and his master fed him well. The dog advised him, "Do work honestly and the master will feed you well". The wolf agreed.

The wolf noticed some marks round the dog's neck. He asked the dog about it. The dog replied that during the day he had to wear the chain round his neck. The wolf was shocked to hear this. He said, "I would rather be free and starve than be a slave to anybody".

Moral: Better be hungry than in chains.

Two Friends and the Bear

Once there were two fast friends in a village. Their names were Raju and Ramu. One day both of them set out on a journey.

They-promised to help each other in trouble. Their way lay through a forest. As they were passing through a forest, they saw a big bear. The bear was coming towards them. They were much frightened to see such a deadly sight.

Ramu at once climbed up a nearby tree to save his life. He was unaware of his friend's safety. Raju did not know how to climb up a tree.

But he was wise and intelligent. He had heard that bears do not touch the dead. So he lay on the ground, held his breath and appeared to be dead. The bear came near him and sniffed the whole body of Raju. Thinking him dead, he went away.

When the bear had gone quite far Raju got on his feet. Ramu also came down the tree. He asked Raju to tell him what the bear had whis­pered in his ear. Raju said that the bear had advised him to beware of false friends like him.

Moral:

Beware of false friends or do not lose your wits.

The Hidden Treasure

There lived a farmer in the village. He had five sons. They were all idlers and never helped their father.

They always quarreled among them­selves. The father was very much sad and worried. He tried his level best to mend their habits but all in vain. Once he was taken ill.

He called his sons. All of them reached there. He asked them to sit down and listen to him carefully.

The old father said, "My dear sons, I am weak and ill. I may die any moment. There is a lot of money hidden in our fields but I have forgotten where I had buried it. Dig that treasure out after my death."

The farmer died after two days. The sons dug every inch of the tend but could not find anything.

As the field was well ploughed some old man advised them to sow wheat in that. They had a very good crop. By selling the wheat they got a lot of money. Now they understood what their father meant. It was really the hidden treasure. From that day they worked hard and lived a happy life.

Moral:

No pains, no gains.

The Silver Key

It was a stormy night. A traveller reached an inn. As the hour was very late, he found the door locked from within. He knocked at the door.

The gate-keeper responded to the knock, saying, "I have lost the key and the door cannot be opened unless you have a silver key with you."

The traveller understood what he meant by the silver key. He im­mediately slipped a silver coin through the hole, and the door opened.

As soon as he got in, he said to the gate keeper, "I have left my box outside, please bring it." As the gate-keeper went out to bring the box, the traveller closed the door behind him.

The keeper asked him to open the door so that he may come in. Now the traveller replied from within, "I have lost the key and a silver key is needed to open the door." Soon the coin was pushed again through the hole and the dishonest man was let in.

Moral:

Dishonesty meets dishonesty.

The Selfish Dog

A farmer had an ox and a dog. The ox helped him in his fields and the dog watched the house at night.

One evening the ox returned home very tired. He was very hungry He went to the manger to eat hay. But he found the dog sitting on it.

The dog barked at him and would not let him eat it. The ox said to the dog, "Please, get aside and let me eat the hay. It is of no use to you."

But the4H natured dog replied, "Since I myself cannot eat the hay. I will not let anyone else have it." So the ox had to go hungry that day.

There are some selfish people in the world also. They would not let others have what they themselves cannot get. They follow the "Dog in the Manger Policy."

Half of the Profit

A rich man wanted to give a great feast to his friends. He got all kinds of dishes prepared but he could not get fish. He offered a reward to the man who would bring it.

After some time a fisherman brought a big fish. But the gate keeper would not let him in till he had promised to give him half the reward.

The fisherman agreed. The rich man was highly pleased and wanted to give him a lot of money, but the fisherman refused to take it. Instead, he demanded a hundred lashes on his back. All were surprised.

At last the rich man ordered a servant to give him a hundred lashes. When the fisherman had received fifty, he asked them to stop as he had a partner in the business.

It was the gate keeper. The rich man understood the whole thing. He was given the remaining fifty lashes dismissed from the service. The rich man gave the fisherman a handsome reward.

The Milk Maid

A milk maid was carrying a pail of milk on her head and was to market to sell it. As she went along she fell into day dreaming.

She thought that she would buy eggs with the money she got by selling milk After the eggs were hatched, she would have a large number of chickens.

They would fetch her high price. She would then buy fine _silk dress for herself and look more beautiful. Princes would come to marry her, but she would toss her head and refuse them.

While thinking so, she did really toss her head in false pride. Down fell the pail on the ground. The whole milk was split and all her plans came to naught.

Moral:

Count not your chickens before they are hatched.

The Lost Camel

Once two merchants lost a camel. They met a traveller and asked him if he had seen it. The man replied he had not." But was your camel blind in the right eye?" Said he to them.

"Yes, he was", replied the merchants. "Was it lame in one left foot?" The man asked again. "Cer­tainly it was", said the merchants.

"Was its front tooth missing"? said he to them." Indeed I" said they. "Was it loaded with honey on one side and with wheat on the other?" "That is just how it was loaded," they answered. "Please take us to it."

"But I have not seen your camel," said the man "and I do not know where it is" the merchants got angry and said, "Then how could you tell us so exactly everything about our camel?" "That is my secret" said the man.

The merchants took him to the king who asked him where the camel was. The man replied that he had not seen it. At this the king asked him how he knew so much about it.

The man answered that the camel had eaten grass only on the left side of the path. So he knew that it was blind.

The marks of its one left foot were faint. This showed that the camel was lame. While eating grass, it had left a little turf in the middle.

So he learnt that it had lost front teeth. There were ants carrying grains of corn on one side of the path and flies eating honey on the other. The king was satisfied with his explanation and let him go.

The Patient Little Girl

Once a famine broke out in a country. Everyday the children of the city flocked at a rich man's house to get loaves of bread.

As soon as the servants brought out loaves, they fought among themselves and struggled hard to get them. One little girl did not fight. She waited pa­tiently for her turn and got the smallest loaf last of all.

One day as usual, she brought the smallest loaf. When she cut it, she found two rupees in it. She went back at once to return the money.

The rich man was pleased at her honesty. He gave her not only those two rupees, but two rupees more as a reward.

Moral:

Patience brings its own reward.

The Blind Man with a Lamp

Once there lived a blind man in a small town. He always carried a lighted lamp in his hand whenever he went out at night.

On one dark night he was going with his lighted lamp in his hand. A group of men were passing that way.

They saw the blind man and made fun of him. They said," O Blind man why do you carry the lighted lamp. You are blind and cannot see anything?

The blind man politely said, "This lamp is not for me, but for you people who have eyes. You may not see a blind man coming and push him. They felt ashamed and begged pardon.

Moral:

Think twice before you speak.

Going To Law

Once two cats, one white and one black, quarreled, over a large piece of cake. The white cat said that she had seen the cake first and so it was hers. The black cat refused to allow her claim and pretended to scratch her.

A monkey saw the cats quarrelling. He asked them what the mat­ter was. He advised them not to fight. He said that he would be the guide and settle the quarrel justly. Both the cats agreed.

The monkey broke the cake into two pieces. He said that he would divide the cake equally for them. He got a pair of scales and put one piece in each pan.

One piece weighed heavier than the other. So he took a big bite out of the larger piece and ate it up. Now the other piece began to weigh heavier.

So he bit the other piece and tried to make it equal. In this way the monkey went on biting first one piece and then the other, till they be­came very small.

The cats were alarmed. They asked him to give them back the pieces. They said that they were quite satisfied. But the mon­key replied that it was the reward for his labour.

Saying this, he put the two pieces in his mouth. The cats lost the whole cake and went away sadder and wiser.

Health is Wealth

Once upon a time, there was a king, who was very lazy. He did not like to do anything. He waited for his attendants to serve him every moment. He used to lie on his bed always. A time came when he really became inactive.

Only eating good food and it's sleeping made him fatty. So fat he became that he could not move around by himself. He felt sick, doctors were called in to treat him. Nothing could help him to become fit and fine. The king was a kind hearted and cordial person. All his subjects were sorry to learn about the fact that their king was not well.

One day the minister met a holy man (Sadhu) on the outskirts of the city. While conversing with each other, the “Sadhu”  came to know the fact that the king was unwell. He told the minister that he could cure the king. Hearing this the minister’s face brightened. He arranged immediately for a meeting of the “Sadhu” and the king.

The “Sadhu” saw the depressed king for a while and then spoke nothing serious had happened and that the king would be alright. From the next day the treatment would start. He asked the king to come to his hut which was at a distance from the palace.

The king had to come on foot to the hut. The king agreed, after so many years the king came outside to walk on the road. His ministers and attendants accompanied him. By the time he reached the Sadhu’s hut, he was breathless, sweating and uncomfortable.

The “Sadhu” came out of the hot noticing everything. He offered cool water to the king. The king felt better. The Sadhu brought out an iron ball, the size of a football and gave it to the attendants asking his majesty that daily morning and evening he had to roll that ball  in the palace grounds.

The king okayed to the “Sadhu” and left. After fifteen days when the “Sadhu” came to the palace to meet the king, he had lost a considerable amount of weight, was feeling much better and was active. All his sickness had disappeared. Inspite a lot of wealth, the king was not happy as he was unhealthy.

So the moral is “Health is Wealth”.