Aesop's tales # 29 - The Wolf and the Shepherd

A Wolf had been prowling around a flock of Sheep for a long time, and the Shepherd watched very anxiously to prevent him from carrying off a Lamb. But the Wolf did not try to do any harm. Instead he seemed to be helping the Shepherd take care of the Sheep. At last the Shepherd got so used to seeing the Wolf about that he forgot how wicked he could be.

One day he even went so far as to leave his flock in the Wolf's care while he went on an errand. But when he came back and saw how many of the flock had been killed and carried off, he knew how foolish to trust a Wolf as he exclaimed. “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

Moral: Delegate your task wisely, and only to people you trust.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 28 - The Hare and the Hound

A Hound started a Hare from his lair, but after a long run, gave up the chase. A goat-herd seeing him stop, mocked him, saying, "The little one is the best runner of the two." The Hound replied, "You do not see the difference between us: I was only running for a dinner, but he for his life."

Moral: Incentive spurs effort.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 27 - The Ass in the Lion's skin

An Ass found a Lion's skin left in the forest by a hunter. He dressed himself in it, and amused himself by hiding in a thicket and rushing out suddenly at the animals who passed that way. All took to their heels the moment they saw him.

The Ass was so pleased to see the animals running away from him, just as if he were King Lion himself, that he could not keep from expressing his delight by a loud, harsh bray. A Fox, who ran with the rest, stopped short as soon as he heard the voice. Approaching the Ass, he said with a laugh:

"If you had kept your mouth shut you might have frightened me, too. But you gave yourself away with that silly bray."

Moral: No disguise will hide one's true character.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 26 - The Fox and the Cat

A Fox was boasting to a Cat of its clever devices for escaping its enemies. "I have a whole bag of tricks," he said, "which contains a hundred ways of escaping my enemies."

"I have only one," said the Cat; "but I can generally manage with that." Just at that moment they heard the cry of a pack of hounds coming towards them, and the Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid herself in the boughs. "This is my plan," said the Cat. "What are you going to do?" The Fox thought first of one way,

then of another, and while he was debating the hounds came nearer and nearer, and at last the Fox in his confusion was caught up by the hounds and soon killed by the huntsmen. Miss Puss, who had been looking on, said:

"Better one safe way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon."

Moral: One sure plan is better than a hundred options.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 25 - The Fox and the Crow

One bright morning as the Fox was following his sharp nose through the wood in search of a bite to eat, he saw a Crow on the limb of a tree overhead. This was by no means the first Crow the Fox had ever seen. What caught his attention this time and made him stop for a second look, was that the lucky Crow held a bit of cheese in her beak.

“No need to search any farther,” thought sly Master Fox. “Here is a dainty bite for my breakfast.”

Up he trotted to the foot of the tree in which the Crow was sitting, and looking up admiringly, he cried, “Good-morning, beautiful creature!”

The Crow, her head cocked on one side, watched the Fox suspiciously. But she kept her beak tightly closed on the cheese and did not return his greeting.

“What a charming creature she is!” said the Fox. “How her feathers shine! What a beautiful form and what splendid wings! Such a wonderful Bird should have a very lovely voice, since everything else about her is so perfect. Could she sing just one song, I know I should hail her Queen of Birds.”

Listening to these flattering words, the Crow forgot all her suspicion, and also her breakfast. She wanted very much to be called Queen of Birds.

So she opened her beak wide to utter her loudest caw, and down fell the cheese straight into the Fox's open mouth.

“Thank you,” said Master Fox sweetly, as he walked off. “Though it is cracked, you have a voice sure enough. But where are your wits?”

Moral: Do not trust flatterers. He who listens to flattery is not wise, for it has no good purpose.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 24 - The Cock and the Jewel

A Cock was busily scratching and scraping about to find something to eat for himself and his family, when he happened to turn up a precious jewel that had been lost by its owner.

"Aha!" said the Cock. "No doubt you are very costly and he who lost you would give a great deal to find you. But as for me, I would choose a single grain of barley corn before all the jewels in the world."

Moral: Precious things are without value to those who cannot prize them.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 23 - The Lark and her Young Ones

A Lark made her nest in a field of young wheat. As the days passed, the wheat stalks grew tall and the young birds, too, grew in strength. Then one day, when the ripe golden grain waved in the breeze, the Farmer and his son came into the field.

"This wheat is now ready for reaping," said the Farmer. "We must call in our neighbors and friends to help us harvest it."

The young Larks in their nest close by were much frightened, for they knew they would be in great danger if they did not leave the nest before the reapers came. When the Mother Lark returned with food for them, they told her what they had heard.

"Do not be frightened, children," said the Mother Lark. "If the Farmer said he would call in his neighbors and friends to help him do his work, this wheat will not be reaped for a while yet."

A few days later, the wheat was so ripe, that when the wind shook the stalks, a hail of wheat grains came rustling down on the young Larks' heads.

"If this wheat is not harvested at once," said the Farmer, "we shall lose half the crop. We cannot wait any longer for help from our friends. Tomorrow we must set to work, ourselves."

When the young Larks told their mother what they had heard that day, she said "Then we must be off at once. When a man decides to do his own work and not depend on any one else, then you may be sure there will be no more delay."

There was much fluttering and trying out of wings that afternoon, and at sunrise next day, when the Farmer and his son cut down the grain, they found an empty nest.

Moral: Self-help is the best help. Procrastination is the thief of time.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 22 - The Donkey carrying salt

A Merchant, driving his Donkey homeward from the seashore with a heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallow ford. They had crossed this river many times before without accident, but this time the Donkey slipped and fell when halfway over. And when the Merchant at last got him to his feet, much of the salt had melted away. Delighted to find how much lighter his burden had become, the Donkey finished the journey very happily.

Next day the Merchant went for another load of salt. On the way home the Donkey, remembering what had happened at the ford, purposely let himself fall into the water, and again got rid of most of his burden.

The angry Merchant immediately turned about and drove the Donkey back to the seashore, where he loaded him with two great baskets of sponges. At the ford the Donkey again tumbled over; but when he had scrambled to his feet, it was a very disconsolate Donkey that dragged himself homeward under a load ten times heavier than before.

Moral:  The same measures will not suit all circumstances.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 21 - The Lion and the Mouse

A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.

“Spare me!” begged the poor Mouse. “Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you.”

The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.

Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.

“You laughed when I said I would repay you,” said the Mouse. “Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion.”

Moral:  Never judge a book by its cover. No one is too weak to do good.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 20 - The Miller, his son and their Ass

A Miller and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing. "Look there,"cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?” The old man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side.

Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. “There," said one of them, "it proves what I was a-saying.What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let the old man rest his weary limbs." Upon this the old man made his son dismount, and got up himself.

In this manner they had not proceeded far when they met a company of women and children. "Why, you lazy old fellow,"  cried several tongues at once, "how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?” The good-natured Miller immediately took up his son behind him.

They had now almost reached the town. "Pray, honest friend," said a citizen, "is that Ass your own?” "Yes," replied the old man. "Oh, one would not have thought so," said the other, "by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you." "Anything to please you," said the old

man; "we can but try."

So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town. This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at it, till the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling that he was subject to, broke the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river.

Upon this, the old man, vexed and ashamed, made the best of his way home again, convinced that by endeavoring to please everybody he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass in the bargain.

Moral: Try to please all and you end up pleasing none.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 19 - The One-Eyed Doe

A Doe had had the misfortune to lose one of her eyes, and could not see any one approaching her on that side.

So to avoid any danger she always used to feed on a high cliff near the sea, with her sound eye looking towards the land. By this means she could see whenever the hunters approached her on land, and often escaped by this means. 

But the hunters found out that she was blind of one eye, and hiring a boat rowed under the cliff where she used to feed and shot her from the sea. "Ah," cried she with her dying voice, you cannot escape your fate."

Moral:  Trouble comes from the direction we least expect it.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 18 - The Lion in Love

A Lion once fell in love with a beautiful maiden and proposed marriage to her parents. The old people did not know what to say. They did not like to give their daughter to the Lion, yet they did not wish to enrage the King of Beasts. At last the father said: "We feel highly honoured by your Majesty's proposal, but you see our daughter is a tender young thing, and we fear that in the vehemence of your affection you might possibly do her some injury. Might I venture to suggest that your Majesty should have your claws removed, and your teeth extracted, then we would gladly consider your proposal again." 

The Lion was so much in love that he had his claws trimmed and his big teeth taken out. But when he came again to the parents of the young girl they simply laughed in his face, and bade him do his worst.

Moral: Love can tame the wildest. Misfortune awaits those who love unwisely.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 17 - The Monkey and the Dolphin

A Sailor, bound on a long voyage, took with him a Monkey to amuse him while on shipboard. As he sailed off the coast of Greece, a violent tempest arose in which the ship was wrecked and he, his Monkey, and all the crew were obliged to swim for their lives. 

A Dolphin saw the Monkey contending with the waves, and supposing him to be a man (whom he is always said to befriend), came and placed himself under him, to convey him on his back in safety to the shore. 

When the Dolphin arrived with his burden in sight of land not far from Athens, he asked the Monkey if he were an Athenian. The latter replied that he was, and that he was descended from one of the most noble families in that city. The Dolphin then inquired if he knew the Piraeus (the famous harbor of Athens). Supposing that a man was meant, the Monkey answered that he knew him very well and that he was an intimate friend. The Dolphin, indignant at these falsehoods, dipped the Monkey under the water and drowned him.

Moral: Those who pretend to be what they are not, sooner or later, find themselves in deep water.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 16 - The Bundle of Sticks

A certain Father had a family of Sons, who were forever quarreling among themselves. No words he could say did the least good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example that should make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune.

One day when the quarreling had been much more violent than usual and each of the Sons was moping in a surly manner, he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his Sons in turn he told them to try to break it. But although each one tried his best, none was able to do so.

The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons to break one by one. This they did very easily.

“My Sons,” said the Father, “do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.”

Moral: In Unity is Strength. Disunited families are easily injured by others.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 15 - The Eagle and the Beetle

An Eagle was chasing a hare, which was running for dear life and was at her wits' end to know where to turn for help. Presently she espied a Beetle, and begged it to aid her. So when the Eagle came up the Beetle warned her not to touch the hare, which was under its protection. But the Eagle never noticed the Beetle

because it was so small, seized the hare and ate her up. The Beetle never forgot this, and used to keep an eye on the Eagle's nest, and whenever the Eagle laid an egg it climbed up and rolled it out of the nest and broke it.

At last the Eagle got so worried over the loss of her eggs that she went up to Jupiter, who is the special protector of Eagles, and begged him to give her a safe place to nest in; so he let her lay her eggs in his lap. But the Beetle noticed this and made a ball of dirt the size of an Eagle's egg, and flew up and deposited it in Jupiter's lap. When Jupiter saw the dirt, he stood up to shake it out of his robe, and, forgetting about the eggs, he shook them out too, and they were broken just as before.

Ever since then, they say, Eagles never lay their eggs at the season when Beetles are about.

Moral:  Even the weakest may find means to avenge a wrong.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 14 - A Man and his two Wives

In the old days, when men were allowed to have many wives, a middle-aged Man had one wife that was old and one that was young; each loved him very much, and desired to see him like herself.

Now the Man's hair was turning grey, which the young Wife did not like, as it made him look too old for her husband. So every night she used to comb his hair and pick out the white ones. But the elder Wife saw her husband growing grey with great pleasure, for she did not like to be mistaken for his mother. So every morning she used to arrange his hair and pick out as many of the black ones as she could. The consequence was the Man soon found himself entirely bald.

Moral: Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 13 - The Rivers and the Sea

The Rivers joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, "Why is it that when we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you work in us such a change, and make us salty and unfit to drink?"

The Sea, perceiving that they intended to throw the blame on him, said, "Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will not be made briny."

Moral: Don't blame others for a situation caused by you.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 12 - The Two pots

Two Pots, one of brass and the other of clay, stood together on the hearthstone. One day the Brass Pot proposed to the Earthen Pot that they go out into the world together. But the Earthen Pot excused himself, saying that it would be wiser for him to stay in the corner by the fire.

“It would take so little to break me,” he said. “You know how fragile I am. The least shock is sure to shatter me!”

“Don't let that keep you at home,” urged the Brass Pot. “I shall take very good care of you. If we should happen to meet anything hard I will step between and save you.”

So the Earthen Pot at last consented, and the two set out side by side, jolting along on three stubby legs first to this side, then to that, and bumping into each other at every step.

The Earthen Pot could not survive that sort of companionship very long. They had not gone ten paces before the Earthen Pot cracked, and at the next jolt he flew into a thousand pieces.

Moral: The strong and the weak cannot keep company.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 11 - The Young Thief and his Mother

A young man had been caught in a daring act of theft and had been condemned to be executed for it. He expressed his desire to see his mother, and to speak with her before he was led to execution, and of course this was granted. 

When his mother came to him he said: "I want to whisper to you," and when she brought her ear near him, he nearly bit it off. 

All the bystanders were horrified, and asked him what he could mean by such brutal and inhuman conduct.

"It is to punish her," he said. "When I was young I began with stealing little things, and brought them home to mother. Instead of rebuking and punishing me, she laughed and said: "It will not be noticed".

"It is because of her that I am here to-day."

Moral: Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart therefrom.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 10 - The Boy who cried Wolf

There once was a boy who kept sheep not far from the village. He would often become bored and to amuse himself he would call out, "Wolf! Wolf," although there was no wolf about. 

The villagers would stop what they were doing and run to save the sheep from the wolf's jaw. Once they arrived at the pasture, the boy just laughed. The naughty boy played this joke over and over until the villagers  got tired of him.

One day while the boy was watching the sheep, a wolf did come into the fold. The boy cried and cried, "Wolf! Wolf!"

No one came. The wolf had a feast of sheep that day.

Moral: No one will believe a habitual liar even when he is telling the truth

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 9 - The Tree and the Reed

"Well, little one," said a Tree to a Reed that was growing at its foot, "why do you not plant your feet deeply in the ground, and raise your head boldly in the air as I do?" 

I am contented with my lot," said the Reed. "I may not be so grand, but I think I am safer."  

"Safe!" sneered the Tree. "Who shall pluck me up by the roots or bow my head to the ground?" But it soon had to repent of its boasting, for a hurricane arose which tore it up from its roots, and cast it a useless log on the ground. while the little Reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over.

Moral: Obscurity often brings safety

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 8 - The Milkmaid and her Pail

Patty, the milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a pail on her head. As she went along, she began calculating what she would do with the money she would get for the milk.

"I'll buy some fowls from farmer Brown, she said. They will lay eggs each morning, which I will sell to the parson's wife. With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs, I'll buy myself a new dimity frock, and a chip hat. When I go to the market, won't all the men come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be very jealous. But. I don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my head like this". As she spoke, she tossed her head back, the pail fell off, and all the milk was spilt.

Moral: Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 7 - The City Mouse and the Country Mouse

A country mouse invited his cousin who lived in the city to come visit him. The city mouse was so disappointed with the sparse meal which was nothing more than a few kernels of corn and couple of dried berries.

"My poor cousin, said the city mouse. You hardly have anything to eat! I do believe that an ant could eat better! Please do come to the city and visit me, and I will show you such rich feasts, readily available for the taking".

So, the country mouse left with his city cousin who brought him to a splendid feast in the city's alley. The country mouse could not believe his eyes. He had never seen so much food in one place. There was bread, cheese, cereals, and grains of all sorts scattered about in a warm cozy portion of the alley.

The two mice settled down to eat their wonderful dinner, but before they barely took their first bites, a cat approached their dining area. The two mice scampered away and hid in a small uncomfortable hole until the cat left. Finally, it was quiet, and the unwelcome visitor went to prowl somewhere else. The two mice came out of the hole and resumed their abundant feast. Before they could get a proper taste in their mouth, another visitor intruded on their dinner, and the two little mice had to scuttle away quickly.

"Goodbye, said the country mouse. You do indeed live in a plentiful city, but I am going home where I can enjoy my dinner in peace".

Moral: A modest life with peace and quiet is better than a richly one with danger and strife.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 6 - The Peacock's complaint

A peacock was very unhappy with his ugly voice, and he spent most of his days complaining about it.

"It's true that you cannot sing", said the fox. "But look how beautiful you are!"

"Oh, but what good is all this beauty," moaned the disheartened bird. "I have such an unpleasant voice!"

"Listen, said the fox. Each one has their own special gift. You have such beauty, the nightingale has his song, the owl his eyes, and the eagle his strength. Even if you had an eloquent voice, you would still complain about another thing".

Moral: Do not envy the gifts of others. Make the most of your own.

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 5 - The Wolf and the Crane

A wolf ravished his prey one day. He ate so fiercely and hungrily that a bone got lodged in his throat, causing him grievous pain. He howled and howled in agony and offered a rich reward to anyone who could remove the bone. 

A crane passing by considering the money, and after seeing the wolf and hearing him scream in pain, took pity on him. She used her long thin bill to reach down his throat and remove the bone. And after removing the bone, she asked the wolf for the promised reward.

"Reward!, cried the wolf, you greedy, insolent bird! Why do you deserve a reward?. You're lucky that I didn't bite your head off when you stuck it in my mouth!".

Moral: Do not expect gratitude

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 4 - The Wind and the Sun

The wind and the sun argued one day over which one was the stronger. Spotting a man traveling on the road, they sported a challenge to see which one could remove the coat from the man's back the quickest.

The wind began. He blew strong gusts of air, so strong that the man could barely walk against them. But the man clutched his coat tight against him. The wind blew harder and longer, and the harder the wind blew, the tighter the man held his coat against him. The wind blew until he was exhausted, but he could not remove the coat from the man's back.

It was now the sun's turn. He gently sent  his beams upon the traveler. The sun did very little, but quietly shone upon his head and back until the man became so warm that he took off his coat and headed for the nearest shade tree.

Moral: Gentle persuasion is stronger than force.

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 3 - The Goose that laid the Golden Egg

A man and his wife owned a very special goose. Every day the goose would lay a golden egg, which made the couple very rich.

"Just think, said the man's wife, if we could have all the golden eggs that are inside the goose, we would be richer much sooner".

"You're right, said the husband, we wouldn't have to wait for the goose to lay her egg every day".

So, the couple killed the goose and cut her open, only to find that she was just like every other goose. She had no golden eggs inside of her at all, and they had no more golden eggs.

Moral: Too much greed results in nothing.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 2 - The Bear and the Bees

A bear came across a log where a swarm of bees had nested to make their honey. As he snooped around, a single little bee flew out of the log to protect the swarm. Knowing that the bear would eat all the honey, the little bee stung him sharply on the nose and flew back into the log.

This angered the bear. He swatted at the log with his big claws, determined to destroy the nest of bees inside. This only alerted the bees and quick as a wink, the entire swarm of bees flew out of the log and began to sting the bear from head to heel. The bear saved himself by running to and diving into the nearest pond.

Moral: It is better to bear a single injury in silence that to bring about a thousand by reacting in anger.

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 1 - A Council of Mice

As promised, the subsequent posts will have a collection of tales from the Greek story teller, Aesop. Aesop was a slave in ancient Greece. Not much is known about his life. Most of the characters in his stories are animals, and Aesop uses the natural tendencies of animals to focus on human traits and wisdom. Each story has a moral to be learned from it.

Here is the first one.

The mice, frustrated by the constant dangers of the cat, meet in council to determine a solution to their tiring challenge. They discussed, and equally rejected, plan after plan. Eventually, a very young mouse raised up on his hind legs, and proposed that a bell should be hung around the cat's neck.

"What a splendid idea!" they cried.

"Excellent suggestion!"

"Oh yes, that would very well warn of the cat's presence in time to escape!"

They were accepting the proposal with great enthusiasm and applause, until a quiet old mouse stood up to speak.

"This is, indeed, a very good suggestion, and would no doubt solve our problems, he said. "Now, which one of us will put the bell around the cat's neck?"

Moral: It is one thing to propose. It is something else to carry it out.

Cheers!

Reading - my favourite hobby

I loved to read books - mostly fiction. Dad made me a member of a local private library near my school when I was in class V. I think I was the youngest member of the library at that point of time. I remember elders gazing at me curiously when I used to walk around the book shelves to pick up what I wanted. I promptly returned all the books that I borrowed, so much so that the owner of the library got so fond of me and allowed me to borrow more number of books for the same membership fee!

I was a member of the library till class X. Those days there was no TV. We did not even have a telephone at home! We lived in large tea estates, much away from the main town and so the only pass-time we had was playing and reading. There were no children in my neighbourhood to play with, and so I took up reading. Mom was always furious as I would always sit with a book and not help her in the kitchen!

Right from comics - Amarchitra katha, Tinkle, Panchantra, etc, Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Mills & Boon, Jeffrey Archer, Sydney Shildon...., I used to love reading the whole range of books and comics. I liked ancient stories and fairly tales as well and would even now sit down with a book when I get an opportunity!

Some tales are fascinating and are also powerful learning tools on morals, values and principles. The short stories by Aesop is one such example.

I will try to bring selected Aesop tales in my subsequent postings. Each of them have a moral for children and adults alike, and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did. You will be amazed at how much these stories can inspire and guide our lives.

Cheers!