THREE ADVENTUROUS YOUNG MEN

          Once three men went out in search of adventures. On the way they asked an old man, “Sir, can you tell me the abode of death?”

          “A strange question indeed!” replied the old man. “But I know that death lives under yonder banyan tree.”

          After a good deal of search the young men discovered a big hole under the banyan tree. They began to dig into it and a big poisonous snake rushed out. They at once struck it dead. They went on digging the hole and found a great treasure.

          The young men were tired, hungry and thirsty. One of them was sent in search of food and drink. In his absence, the other two took it into their heads to kill the young man and divide the treasure between them. Meanwhile, the third young man also wanted the whole treasure for himself, so, after buying food, he put some poison in it, excluding of course, his own share.

          The third young man came back with food and drink. All on a sudden the other two fell upon him and killed him. “Then with the rosy picture of being the masters of a vast fortune, they fell to the food for a hearty meal.”

          Alas I before they could finish their meal they fell down dead on the spot.

Moral: Wickedness is sure to bring ruin.

THE HIDDEN TREASURE

          A farmer had three sons. They spent their time idly. They were as idle as their father was active; the laziness of the so ns was a cause of anxiety to the father.

          One day when the farmer was on his death-bed, he called his Sons all round him and said, “My sons, I have an important secret to tell you. A great treasure lies hidden in yonder field.’“Where is it hid, father?“ exclaimed the sons. “You will have to dig for it,” said the dying father. But before he could disclose the full secret, his breath failed him and lie died.

          After the farmer’s death, the sons set to work upon the fallow field. They turned up the soil of the entire field with hard labour. They found no treasure, but learnt to work.

          The seeds were sown in the well-cultivated field. So it yielded a rich harvest. Then the sons could realise what their vise father had meant by the hidden treasure.

THE RIGHT JUDGMENT

          Once there was a dispute between two women over a baby. Each of them claimed to be its real mother. They had no witness. So both of them went before a wise judge and asked for justice.

“My lord,” said the first woman, “This baby is mine. This woman took it away in my absence.”

          The second woman said, “It’s a lie, my lord. This baby is mine, and not hers.”

The judge heard the women and found both of them equally strong in their claims. He thought over the matter for some time and then said, “Well, the law will take its course and the punishment for the liar will be hard.” But the women remained silent.

          The judge then summoned the executioner and ordered, “Cut the baby into two and give one part to each of the women.”

          Hearing this, one of the women fainted away, while the other was unmoved. The former, after regaining consciousness, said in a piteous tone, “My lord, for God’s sake, please do not cut the baby. Better give it to the other woman.”

          The judge then gave the baby to her and sent the other woman into prison.

Moral: A mother loves her child more than her own self.

THE LION AND THE HARE

          In a certain forest a mighty lion used to kill and devour animals right and left. The animals hit upon a novel plan foil their safety. In a meeting it was decided to send one animal daily for the lion’s meal. In exchange the lion agreed not to kill any other animals.

          From that day the animals of the forest drew lots and selected the victim every day. The lion got his daily food and gave up hunting.

          One day the turn came for a hare to be sent to the lion. On the way the hare hit upon a clever plan to put an end to the lion and save himself.

          The hare reached the lion’s den long after the usual hour. The hungry lion grew furious with rage and roared out, “Wretch, why are you so late?“

          With all humility the hare replied, “My lord, it’s not my fault. I was chased by another lion. He said that he was the king of the forest and would not let me come.”

          “Show me the way,” roared the angry lion, “I must kill my rival.”

          The clever hare took the lion to the side of a deep well and told him that the lion was in it. In great rage the lion looked down the well and saw his own image. He took it for another lion. With a great roar he jumped into the well and was drowned.

Moral: Wit is better than strength.

THE PIPER PIPED OF HAMELIN

          Long, long ago the city of Hamelin in Germany was infested with rats. Those rats were very bad. They would tight with cats and dogs and bite sleeping babies in their cradles.

The Mayor of the city declared a big reward to the person who might free tile City of the rats. A piper of strange appearance offered to get rid the city of rats if the Mayor would give him a handsome reward.

          The Mayor agreed to pay him a bag of gold. Next morning the piper began to play on his pipe, and the rats from far and near came out dancing after him. It was indeed a sight to see when a procession of rats followed the piper in the streets. The piper went to the bank of the river Weser into which the rats rushed and were drowned.

          The piper came to the Mayor and asked for the promised reward, The Mayor said, “We won’t give you any reward. The rats are drowned in the river and they will trouble us no more.”

          Next morning the piper began to pipe in a different tune. The children of the cit rushed out from all quarters and followed the piper in a procession. He came to the cavern of a mountain and the children entered into it. The cavern closed and the citizens could d nothing but mourn over the children.

Moral: Breach of promise brings punishment.

THE CARTER AND HERCULES

           One morning a carter tilled his wooden cart with many bags wheat. He yoked to it a pair of stout oxen. He set out for a dist market to sell his goods. A heavy shower of rain overtook him o the way. It made tile muddy road almost impassable. All of a sudden  the wheels of the cart got stuck in the mud. The cart did not move The carter goaded the oxen and even whipped them. But they could d not move on.

           In his helplessness the carter fell down on his knees and offer prayers to Hercules, the god of strength for his help. Hercules appeared  before him and said, “Lazy fellow, get up and put your shoulder the wheel. Help comes only to him who helps himself.”

           The carter followed the god’s advice. Within a few minutes he was able to get the wheels of the cart out of the mud. “Thus do I he men,” said Hercules, and then he disappeared,

Moral: God helps (hose who help themselves.

A MAGICIAN AND A TAILOR

           A magician and a tailor lived in the same city. Once they happened to meet together. “Alas !” said the tailor, “What an unfortunate man am I! If people in their want are forced to live without clothes, I have nothing to fall back upon.”

           The magician said, “Indeed my friend, I pity you. You know only one petty art. But thank God, things are not so quite bad with’ me. If one trick of mine fails, I have hundred other tricks”.

           “You are lucky indeed!” said the tailor. “Don’t be anxious, my friend”, said the magician. “If you ever fall in evil days, just tell me, I will help you.”

           After a month a great famine visited the land. The tailor somehow managed to earn his living, for people could not do without clothes. But the proud magician with his hundred tricks could find no customer. In vain he promised to eat fire or to vomit pins, or to swallow living fishes, but not a single man cared for him. The proud magician was at last forced to beg from the very tailor whom he had pitied before.