THE FARMER’S MAGIC

           Once there was in Bagdad an honest and hard-working farmer named Cressin. He looked after his cattle with great care. He used sharp implements to till the ground and manured his fields every year. The result was that his land yielded him abundant crop.

           ‘Cressin’s simple and idle neighbours could not account for his wonderful produce. They grew jealous of him and accused him of his supposed sorcery before the justiciar.

          “My lord, this man knows magic”, they said, “that’s why his fields yield more and our fields less. So with equal lands we are wretched and miserable.”
          

          The farmer was brought before the justiciar. Cressin said, “My lord, I know no magic. Behold this comely damsel, my daughter. She is my fellow-labourer. Behold these implements of husbandry, these ploughs and oxen. Come with me to my fields and see how they are tilled, how manured, how weeded and how watered! This is the magic I use.”

           The simple words of the farmer had their effects on the wise justiciar. He rewarded Cressin for his honest labour and said to others angrily, “Go, and learn the magic.”

THE SAILOR AND THE CAGED BIRDS

          In a war between England and Germany an English sailor was made a prisoner. He was confined in France for several years. In his prison-cell he would always think of his motherland, wife and children. He always longed to see them.

          When the war came to an end, the English sailor was set free with other prisoners of war. His joy knew no bounds when he found himself a free man once more. He came back to his dear and near ones.
         
          One day the sailor visited a bird-seller’s shop in London. It was full of cages containing all kinds of birds. The condition of these birds in cages reminded him of his own miserable life in France. He bought a number of cages containing birds. He opened the cages and set the birds free one by one. With a heart full of joy he gazed at the birds flying far into the blue sky.
         
          The bird-seller was amazed at his strange conduct. He asked him, “How is it that you have released all the birds you have bought?“ The sailor replied, “I find pleasure to set imprisoned birds free, for I know very well the pain of captivity.”