A friend in need is a friend indeed

Once upon a time there lived a lion in a forest. One day after a heavy meal. It was sleeping under a tree. After a while, there came a mouse and it started to play on the lion. Suddenly the lion got up with anger and looked for those who disturbed its nice sleep. Then it saw a small mouse standing trembling with fear. The lion jumped on it and started to kill it. The mouse requested the lion to forgive it. The lion felt pity and left it. The mouse ran away.

On another day, the lion was caught in a net by a hunter. The mouse came there and cut the net. Thus it escaped. There after, the mouse and the lion became friends. They lived happily in the forest afterwards.

A Town Mouse and A Country Mouse

A Town Mouse and a Country Mouse were friends. The Country Mouse one day invited his friend to come and see him at his home in the fields. The Town Mouse came and they sat down to a dinner of barleycorns and roots the latter of which had a distinctly earthy flavor.

The flavor was not much to the taste of the guest and presently he broke out with "My poor dear friend, you live here no better than the ants. Now, you should just see how I fare! My larder is a regular horn of plenty. You must come and stay with me and I promise you shall live on the fat of the land."

So when he returned to town he took the Country Mouse with him and showed him into a larder containing flour and oatmeal and figs and honey and dates.

The Country Mouse had never seen anything like it and sat down to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided. But before they had well begun, the door of the larder opened and some one came in. The two Mice scampered off and hid themselves in a narrow and exceedingly uncomfortable hole. Presently, when all was quiet, they ventured out again. But some one else came in, and off they scuttled again. This was too much for the visitor. "Good bye," said he, "I'm off. You live in the lap of luxury, I can see, but you are surrounded by dangers whereas at home I can enjoy my simple dinner of roots and corn in peace."

Elephant and Friends

One day an elephant wandered into a forest in search of friends.
He saw a monkey on a tree.
"Will you be my friend?" asked the elephant.
Replied the monkey, "You are too big. You can not swing from trees like me."
Next, the elephant met a rabbit. He asked him to be his friends.
But the rabbit said, "You are too big to play in my burrow!"
Then the elephant met a frog.
"Will you be my friend? He asked.
"How can I?" asked the frog.
"You are too big to leap about like me."
The elephant was upset. He met a fox next.
"Will you be my friend?" he asked the fox.
The fox said, "Sorry, sir, you are too big."
The next day, the elephant saw all the animals in the forest running for their lives.
The elephant asked them what the matter was.
The bear replied, "There is a tier in the forest. He's trying to gobble us all up!"
The animals all ran away to hide.
The elephant wondered what he could do to solve everyone in the forest.
Meanwhile, the tiger kept eating up whoever he could find.
The elephant walked up to the tiger and said, "Please, Mr. Tiger, do not eat up these poor animals."
"Mind your own business!" growled the tiger.
The elephant has a no choice but to give the tiger a hefty kick.
The frightened tiger ran for his life.
The elephant ambled back into the forest to announce the good news to everyone.
All the animals thanked the elephant.
They said, "You are just the right size to be our friend."

The Clever Crab

There lived a heron by a big lake. He used to catch fish and eat them. But he had become old and could not catch fish like before. He went without food for many days together.

"I have to think of a plan. Otherwise I won't live for long," thought the heron. Soon he came out with a clever plan. The heron sat at the water's edge looking depressed and thoughtful. In the same lake lived a crab who was friendly and thoughtful. As he went past, he noticed how the heron looked and asked him, "Why are you looking depressed my friend?"

"What can I say," said the heron in a sad voice. "Something terrible is going to happen."
"What is that?" asked the crab anxiously.

"When I was on my way here this morning, I heard an astrologer say that there will be no rains in these parts for the next twelve years. The lake will dry up and we will all die. I am quite old. It does not matter if I die. But you all are so young. There is so much for you to see and enjoy," said the heron.

The crab went to the fishes in the lake and told them what the heron had told him. They were all filled with fear. "O no! What do we do? We will all die." they cried.

"There is a very big lake some distance from here. I can take you all there one by one." offered the heron. All the fishes were comforted and they agreed to be carried to the bigger lake one by one.

Every day, the heron would fly the fishes one by one. He would hold one gingerly between his long beak and fly away. But instead of taking them to any lake, he would land on a rock some distance away and eat them. Then he would rest till evening and return to the lake.

After some days, the crab went up to the heron. "You have been taking the fishes to the other lake. When will you take me?" he asked.

The heron thought to himself, "I am tired of eating fish. Crab meat should be a pleasant change."

The heron agreed to take the crab to the other lake.

But the crab was too large for the heron to carry in his beak. So the crab climbed on to the heron's back and they started the journey. After a while, the crab grew impatient.

"How far is the lake?" he asked the heron.

"You fool," laughed the heron. "I am not taking you to any lake. I am going to dash you against those rocks and eat you like I ate all those fishes."

"I am not a fool to allow you to kill me," said the crab.

He held the heron's neck in his powerful claws and strangled the wicked heron to death.

The Crane and The Snake

In a forest close to the river bank mere lived a crane with his wife. They were very unhappy. Every time the wife laid eggs in their nest, a big black cobra who lived in a hollow in the tree, would eat them up. The crane had a friend the crab. He went to his friend the crab and shared his misery. "I feel so hopeless.... That sneaking thief has eaten our eggs again," complained the crane angrily.

"Don't worry," said the crab comfortingly. "You need not be hopeless when you have a friend like me. We will come up with a solution."

The crab sat to think of a plan. Suddenly he jumped up and rushed to the crane.

"Friend, I have a wonderful plan," said the crab and whispered something into the crane's car.

The crane flew back to his nest and told his wife all about the crab's plan. He was very excited.

"Are you sure this will work?" asked the wife.

"I hope we are not making a mistake. Think twice before going ahead with the plan."

But the crane was eager to try out the plan. The crane flew down to the river bank and began to fish. He caught several little fishes and went down to the hole in which a mongoose lived. He dropped a fish at the mouth of the hole. Then he took another fish and dropped it a little further away from the first one. Repeating this, he made a trail of fishes leading to the tree where his nest was.

The mongoose smelt the fish and came out of the hole. "Ah, a fish!" exclaimed the mongoose joyfully and quickly ate it up. He then followed the trail of fishes. As he neared the tree where the cranes and the snake lived, the trail ended. Finding no more fishes, he looked around.

Suddenly he came across the black cobra at the foot of the tree. Seeing the mongoose, the cobra fought for his life. Both fought for a long time and in the end the mongoose killed the snake. The cranes who were watching the fight from their nest sighed with relief.

The next day the mongoose began to follow the same trail hoping to find more food. When he came to the tree where the trail ended, he decided to climb the tree in search of food.

The cranes who were away at the river bank returned to find the mongoose climbing down the tree. On looking in their nest, they discovered that this time, the mongoose had eaten up all their eggs.

"Alas! We got rid of one enemy only to find another," said the crane to his wife.

The Crow and The Eagle

It was a bright spring day. The sun was high in the blue sky. A herd of sheep was grazing contentedly on the hillside. The little lambs with their soft white coats and curly tails were playing among themselves. The Shepherd, seeing that his flock was safe and happy, had fallen asleep under the spreading branches of a large old tree.

Suddenly an Eagle swooped down from the sky. It pounced on a little lamb and carried it off so swiftly that none of the other lambs even had the time to bleat. The sleeping Shepherd heard nothing.

A Crow was sitting on the tree under which the Shepherd lay asleep. He had seen how the Eagle had caught the lamb and carried it off to his nest.

'What a wonderful way to get dinner!' he thought. 'Why do crows look for old smelly food?'

The Crow decided to do exactly as the Eagle had done. It had looked easy enough. All he had to do was to decide which sheep he wanted, swoop down upon it, hold it as firmly as he could in his claws and fly off with it... Easy!

If the Eagle could do it, then so could he!

The Crow looked down at the flock of sheep to decide which sheep he wanted.

Just below the tree, by the Shepherd, a big, old Ram was grazing. He had curling horns and a thick heavy fleece.

'Aha! He should be a good meal for me!' thought the Crow greedily. He was very hungry and the thought of a large juicy ram for lunch made his mouth water.

The Crow swooped silently and swiftly down onto the Ram, just as he had seen the Eagle do and grasped it firmly by its fleece.

'And now to fly off with it to my nest,' said the Crow to himself. He flapped his wings with all his strength, but could not lift the Ram.

The Ram was large. He was much too heavy for the Crow to carry. The Crow tried again and again, but without success.

The Ram felt the Crow on its back and was most annoyed. Just what do you think you are doing, you pesky bird?' he snapped, glaring at him over his shoulder.

The Crow flapped harder still, trying to carry the Ram away.

'Now stop that!' cried the Ram. 'Go away! Shoo! Leave me in peace!' He jumped and bucked and tried to shake the Crow off his back.

'Oh oh!' thought the Crow, alarmed at the Ram's fierce antics. 'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all! Perhaps I should look for my dinner somewhere else! I had better let the Ram be!'

The Crow tried to fly away, but he found he could not move. His claws were caught in the Ram's thick fleece! The Crow pulled his feet this way and that. He flapped his wings as hard as he could. But no matter what he did, he only seemed to get stuck more firmly.

Oh, how was he ever going to get free? The Crow squawked loudly in fear and despair. The Ram started running around the tree, bellowing with rage. The Shepherd woke up with a start. Who was making that horrible noise? Were his sheep in danger? He sat up.

What a sight met his eyes! The Ram was running round and round the tree. On his back was the Crow, squawking and trying to rise into the air.

The Shepherd began to laugh. At last, wiping his eyes, the Shepherd stood up. He stopped the Ram as he ran by and calmed him with gentle words.

When the Ram was still, the Shepherd took a pair of shears from his sack. Holding the Crow with one hand, he deftly snipped the fleece until the Crow was free.

'What did you think you were doing, my fine friend'' asked the Shepherd, looking at the Crow. 'Playing at being an Eagle, were you?'

The Shepherd burst out laughing again.

The Crow was too embarrassed even to croak. He wished only that the Shepherd would let him go so he could fly away to his nest and hide his foolish head.

Finally, when the Shepherd let the Crow go, the Crow flapped his wings and flew off as fast as he could.

'And the next time you want to be an Eagle, make sure you pick an animal your size!' called the Shepherd after him.

The Crow, feeling silly and foolish, promised himself that from now on he would only do as other crows did!

The Crow and The Necklace

Once a crow and his wife built their nest atop a huge banyan tree beside a river. They were very happy there. But when the female crow laid her eggs, they were in for an unpleasant shock. A huge snake who lived in a hole at the bottom of the tree came up and ate all their beautiful eggs.

The crows were helpless with anger and pain. "You can't let this wicked snake eat our children anymore," cried the female crow bitterly. "You have to find a way to save them from him,' she said.

"Let us go to our friend the jackal. He is very clever. He will surely be able to help us with a solution," said the male crow.

They both flew to the cave in the forest where their friend the jackal lived.

The jackal saw them coming. "Hello my friends. Why do you look so sad and worried? Can I help you in any way? "he asked.

"Every time my wife lays eggs in our nest, a wicked snake living at the foot of the tree eats them up," explained the crow.

"We want to get rid of him and save our children. Please tell us what we can do."

The jackal thought for some time. "I know what you should do," said the jackal and he told the plan to the crows.

It was a habit of the queen to come with her maids for a bath to the river. When they did so, they removed all their clothes and jewels and placed them on the river bank. On the following day the queen and her maids as usual entered the river.

"You know what to do right?" asked the crow to his wife. "Yes," she answered.

Both of them flew over the pile of clothes and jewels. The female crow swiftly picked up a precious pearl necklace in her beak. At the same time the male crow began to caw loudly to gain the attention of the queen and her maids.

"Oh, those crows have taken my pearl necklace." cried the queen. "Guards!" she cried. "Get that necklace back from those pesky crows." Her guards chased the crows shouting loudly.

The crows flew straight to the banyan tree with the guards close behind. Hearing all the noise, the snake came out of his hole at the foot of the tree. Immediately, the female crow dropped the necklace right where the snake was.

"Look out! There is a huge snake near the necklace," alerted one guard.

Before the snake could realize what was happening, the guards attacked him with sharp spears and killed him. The guards then picked up the necklace and took it back to their queen.

The crows thanked their friend the jackal for helping them get rid of their enemy. They lived happily with their children.

The Donkey and The Load of Salt

Once, there lived a peddler. The peddler sold all sorts of goods....sturdy shoes for the farmers and pretty trinkets for their sweethearts, warm, woolly shawls to keep the women warm and sweet, sticky toffees for the children to munch on their way back from school.

Some days he sold fruits and on other days, kettles. To carry all his wares, the peddler had a donkey. Every morning, the peddler loaded the donkey with his wares. The two would set out and walk from farmhouse to farmhouse, from village to village and from market to market.

The peddler always walked ahead, whistling merrily as he went. The poor donkey followed, trying as hard as he could to keep up with his master and groaning under the weight of his load.

Every evening, their wares sold, the peddler and his donkey would wend their way home. The peddler, pleased with the day's takings, would walk ahead, jingling the pennies in his pocket. The poor old donkey would follow, foot sore and weary from carrying the heavy sacks all day long.

"Ah! My poor feet! Oh! My aching back!" the donkey moaned every night as he collapsed wearily onto the hay in his stable.

The old grey cat who shared the stable with the donkey, would shake her head and sigh. 'Poor old donkey,' she would say to herself, and slink off into the night.

One morning, the peddler loaded the poor donkey with a dozen sacks. The sacks were full of salt and much heavier than the donkey's usual load. The donkey groaned under the weight, but bore it patiently, as he had always done.

"I shall make a tidy profit today on this salt.' said the peddler to the donkey, as they set off. 'There is not a woman who does not need to buy salt for her cooking and they will pay me well for this. I shall be a rich man tonight!'

And the peddler danced a little jig in the middle of the road. The donkey could only think of the heavy load on his back and the long day ahead.

The donkey plodded along behind the peddler. The sun was now high in the sky. The donkey was hot and tired and longing for a drink of water. Up ahead, he knew, there flowed a stream of cool, sweet water. The donkey hurried towards the stream as fast as his tired legs and the heavy load on his back would allow and leaned over for a drink. The edge of the stream was slippery with mud and slush. The donkey, with the heavy sacks of salt on his back, slipped and fell into the water.

"Oooh, help! Help!' brayed the donkey in terror, his legs flailing madly in the water. 'I will surely drown with this terrible load on my back!'

But suddenly, the donkey felt himself floating, the load on his back gone as if by magic. He clambered out on to the bank and shook himself. Yes! The weight on his back had vanished!

Of course the sacks were lighter, for the salt had dissolved in the water. But the donkey did not know that. 'At last! A way to rid myself of my burdens,' he thought and brayed with joy at his great discovery.

That night he told the grey cat all about how he had slipped and fallen into the stream and how, when he had climbed out, his load had become so much lighter.

"No more heavy loads for me,' declared the donkey, feeling very pleased.

'Every time it gets too much for me, all I have to do is to pretend to fall into a stream and my load will lessen by magic!'

The grey cat shook her head and sighed. 'Poor old donkey.' she said and slunk off into the night.

Next morning the peddler loaded the monkey again, this time with bales of cloth that he wanted to sell at the next village. Be careful today, old donkey,' he said as they set off. 'I did not earn penny yesterday. I must earn double today or we go to bed hungry tonight.'

The donkey plodded along behind the peddler and groaned under the weight of the cloth. His back ached more than ever and his feet were killing him. He resolved to find a stream as quickly as he could. As luck would have it, the peddler took the same path he had taken the previous day and very soon they came to the same stream. The donkey hurried ahead as though very thirsty and pretending to slip, fell in. He kicked his legs about, making sure the bundle on his back was properly soaked.

In a moment my burden will vanish." he told himself and kicked about some more.

But what was happening? Something was wrong! His load, in stead of becoming lighter, had become much heavier and was slowly pulling him deeper into the stream. Of course his burden was heavier, for the water had soaked into the bales of cloth. The poor donkey thrashed about in the water and brayed in terror.

"Help! Help!' he cried.

Meanwhile, the peddler had rushed to the stream and bracing himself on the bank, helped the frightened donkey out of the water.

That night, the donkey was a sad and subdued creature. He had had to carry the much heavier, soaked and dripping bales of cloth all the way home again. His back was truly aching and what was worse, he had caught a cold. He sneezed miserably into the straw. The old grey cat looked at him and sighed. 'Poor old donkey,' he said and slunk off into the night.

The Donkey Who Would Sing

A wild donkey once lived in the woods. He had no friends and lived all alone.

One day a jackal passing by saw the donkey. He went up to the donkey and said, "What is the matter? Why do you look so sad my dear fellow?"

The donkey turned to the jackal and said, "I have no friends and am very lonely."

"Well, don't worry. I will be your friend from today," the jackal comforted him.

From that day, the donkey and jackal became very good friends. They were always seen together.

One moonlit evening, the jackal and the donkey were strolling through the woods. It was a cool and pleasant evening. As they walked on, they came to the outskirts of a village bordering the woods. There in front of them was a grove of fruit trees.

"Ah. Look! How wonderful and delicious the fruits look," said the donkey. "Let's eat some of them."

"Okay," said the jackal. "But let's do it very quietly."

They entered the grove and silently started to eat the fruits. After eating enough, they lay under a tree happy and content. "That was delicious, but there is something missing tonight," said the donkey.

"What is that?" asked the jackal. "Why, music of course," answered the donkey, looking a little surprised.

The jackal asked, "Where are we going to get music from?" The donkey said. "Don't you know that I am an accomplished singer?"

The jackal was alarmed. "Remember, we are in an orchard. If the farmer hears us, we will be in trouble. If you want to sing let us go away from here," he advised the donkey.

"You think I can't sing, don't you?" asked the donkey in a hurt voice.

"Wait till you hear me."

The jackal realized that the donkey was not willing to take his good advice. He moved away and hid himself behind a clump of trees. The donkey threw back his head and started his song. "He ...haw, hee-haw," he brayed aloud.

The farmers hearing the loud braying came rushing with sticks and gave the foolish donkey a severe beating that left the donkey feeling sore all over.

After the farmers had left, the jackal went over to his friend. He said. "Is this the prize you won for your singing?"

"They don't appreciate good music," replied a hurt and ashamed donkey.

The jackal replied. "This is what happens when you don't listen to the advice given by a good friend. I hope you have learnt a lesson."

The Faithful Mongoose

Once there lived a kind Brahmin in a small village with his wife. They had a little son. One day, as he was returning home from a nearby village, he came across a baby mongoose crying next to its mother's dead body.

"Oh! poor creature," thought the Brahmin. "If I leave it here it will surely die." He picked it up and took it home with him.

"Gowri, I found this little creature on my way home. Let us take care of him," he said to his wife. "Very well along with our son, I will take care of the mongoose also," replied his wife.

The mongoose grew up with a lot of love and care in the Brahmin's house. He slept next to the Brahmin's son in the cradle, drank milk and played with the boy everyday. The baby mongoose's days were full of joy in the Brahmin's house. As both the boy and the mongoose grew up, their friendship changed to a relationship between two brothers.

The mongoose grew up fast and as days went by, the Brahmin's wife began to get doubts in her mind. "After all, this is a wild animal. Sooner or later it will show its true colours," she thought to herself. She put the mongoose's bed separately and would watch him carefully when ever he played with her son.

One day when the Brahmin was away. Gowri decided to go to the river to fetch a pot of water. She looked around and saw her son sound asleep in his cradle. The mongoose was also asleep on the floor at the foot of the cradle. This should take only a few moments I hope I can trust that mongoose not to harm my little son," she said to herself and after a final look at them both she hurried down to the river.

Suddenly, the mongoose woke up with a start. He had heard a very faint noise. Looking up, the mongoose saw a large black snake crawling in through a hole in the wall.

"The snake will harm my brother. Mother and father are away. I will have to protect my little brother," thought the mongoose, as the snake came slithering towards the cradle.

The brave little mongoose pounced on the huge black snake. After a long, ferocious fight, the little mongoose finally managed to kill the snake.

Just then, he heard the Brahmin's wife returning. Joyfully, he ran out to meet his mother and tried telling her through his little animal signs that he had protected his little brother from a dreadful snake.

But as soon as Gowri saw blood on the mongoose's mouth and paws, she thought, "This wretched animal has killed my little son." In a fit of anger the Brahmin's wife threw the pot full of water on the mongoose killing him instantly.

Entering the house with a heavy heart, she was amazed to see her little son lying in his cradle still deep in sleep. On the floor was a huge black snake with its ugly head bitten off.

"Oh what have I done," cried the Brahmin's wife. "I killed that faithful little mongoose who saved the life of my precious son."

The Foolish Crow

The winter had been especially cold. The snow lay thick and heavy on the ground. The squirrels, the badgers and the hedgehogs had vanished into their snug winter homes to sleep away the cold, dark months. The swifts and the swallows had left for warmer countries long ago. Even the slugs and snails had disappeared, hiding away in some dark, warm patch of woodland to wait for the spring. The woods and fields were silent and empty. Only a big, black Crow was hunting for her evening meal.

The Crow had flown all day in search of food. But she had found nothing, not even a tiny mouse or a piece of someone's leftover lunch. Now she was tired and hungry. She cawed sadly.

"I will have to go without dinner tonight,' she thought as she flapped slowly across the sky in one last desperate search for something to eat.

She was on the point of turning back when she saw a thin column of smoke coming up into the sky, far away in the distance.

"Smoke means fire and fire means cooking and cooking means food!" thought the Crow. She flew as fast as she could, towards the curling smoke. The smoke came from the chimney of a large farmhouse where the farmer's wife was cooking dinner for her family. A delicious-smelling stew was bubbling in a large pot over the fire and loaves of fresh-baked bread were on the table, ready to be cut into slices. A pat of butter and a chunk of cheese lay in their platters on the window sill. The farmer's wife had left the window open so the cold air would keep the butter from melting and the cheese from sweating.

The Crow saw the cheese by the open window. Quick as a flash, she flew down to the window sill, picked cheese in her big black beak and flew off. The farmer's wife was stirring the stew, with her back to the window. She did not see the Crow. The Crow was very pleased with herself. 'Nothing like a piece of cheese on a cold winter afternoon!' she thought.

She flew towards a clump of tall trees and perched comfortably on a bare branch high above the ground to enjoy her meal in comfort.

A wily old Fox lay hidden among the bushes in the farmer's garden. He had roamed the woods and fields all day in search of food. But he had found nothing to eat, not a bird nor a mouse nor even the scraps from someone's picnic. Now he was tired and hungry.

"I will have to go without dinner tonight.' he sighed.

He was on the point of turning back, when he saw the Crow perch on the bare branch with the piece of cheese in her beak.

"What a lovely, smelly piece of cheese!' thought the Fox. I must have that piece of cheese for my dinner. Now, if only I can take that cheese away from the Crow..."

The Fox watched the Crow settle herself comfortably on the branch. He smiled slyly to himself. Strolling up to the foot of the tree, the Fox called out.

"Good evening. Mrs. Crow! You look well today!'

The Crow looked down at the Fox in surprise. She had never heard him speak so politely before.

The Fox continued. 'Oh Mrs. Crow, how beautiful you are! Your feathers are so black! So smooth and shining! Truly. I have never seen such feathers before!'

The Crow was even more surprised. No one had ever called her beautiful before! Of course, she had always known how pretty she was. But it was pleasant to be admired by some one else.

The Fox looked up at her and sighed. 'How graceful you are. Mrs. Crow, how elegant! You fly so wonderfully well too and higher than an eagle!'

The Crow held herself taller. She had always known how graceful and elegant she was. Of course, she could fly most wonderfully high! How clever of the Fox to know that. She flapped her wings just a little bit so he could admire them again. What a charming creature he was!

The Fox took a deep breath and continued. 'Your claws, ahem, I mean your talons. Mrs. Crow! They are stronger than steel!'

Ah... her talons! She had always been proud of her talons. She hopped clumsily on the branch so that the Fox could take another look at her claws. Really, he did say the nicest things!

The Crow was by now quite sure that she was the prettiest, most graceful and the strongest bird of all.

The Fox smiled secretly to himself. He looked admiringly at the Crow and said. 'Dear Mrs. Crow. I have not heard your voice. It must be the sweetest voice in the world, as beautiful as you are. Dear Mrs. Crow, won't you sing for me?'

The Crow was flattered. All the other birds had told her that she had an awful voice. And here was the Fox begging her to sing for him! Of course, she had always known what a lovely voice she had...

The Crow took a deep breath and opened her beak in a loud and raucous Caw!' Down dropped the piece of cheese! The Fox snapped it up as it fell and swallowed it before the Crow realized what had happened.

The Fox walked off chuckling. 'Next time, Mrs. Crow, be careful what you believe!' he cried as he vanished through the trees.

The Crow was left feeling foolish. How could she have been so vain and so silly, as to be taken in by the Fox's clever words and to lose her lovely dinner!

The Crow ruffled her feathers sadly and got ready for a hungry night.

The Frog and The Ox

On a lily pad in the little stream that flowed at the bottom of the meadow, there lived an old Frog. He was a big frog and he was very proud of his size. All the other frogs were in awe of him and treated him with the greatest respect.

So did all the other creatures. The shining blue dragonflies that hovered over the stream during the day took great care to keep far out of the reach of his long sticky tongue. So did the little midges that fluttered by in a soft cloud in the evenings. Even the fishes in the stream were careful not to annoy him. The Frog ruled his watery kingdom unchallenged.

The Farmer who owned the meadow by the stream also had an old Ox. The Ox had worked hard for the Farmer all his life. He had helped him plough his fields. Yoked to an old wooden cart, he had carried his crops to market and his children to school. But now the Ox was growing old. He no longer had the strength to work as hard as he used to.

The Farmer was fond of his old Ox and grateful for all the hard work he had done over the years. He did not want to sell him. Instead, he decided to let the Ox spend his old age in peace, in the meadow by the stream.

One fine morning, the Ox moved into the meadow. He wandered around the meadow, surveying his new home. The grass was soft and green and wildflowers dotted the ground. The Ox was happy. He planned to spend his days grazing on the sweet juicy grass and basking in the sun.

The little creatures of the meadow stared at the Ox in fear and awe. The butterflies flew hurriedly out of his way. The hardworking ants and the busy bees stopped their work as the Ox walked slowly by. They had never seen any creature as big as the Ox. Not even the old Frog on the lily pad in the stream was quite this big! The Ox munched happily on the sweet grass. He did not even notice the tiny creatures.

The Frog heard the dragonflies chattering excitedly among themselves about the huge monster who had come to live in the meadow. The dragonflies had heard it from the bumblebee who had heard it from the ladybird who had heard it from the ants who had almost been trampled on by the monster as it stomped by.

'It is the largest, biggest, most enormous creature you ever saw!' cried the dragonflies. It has huge curving horns on its head and a tail so long and so strong that one whisk of it is enough to blow us all away!"

The Frog did not believe a word that the dragonflies said. 'Ha! This monster of yours cannot be bigger than I am!' he cried. 'And horns and a tail, bah! They cannot be more fearsome than my long sticky tongue!'

How could any creature be bigger than him? Was he not the largest, most magnificent frog in the world? The dragonflies were just being rude!

The Frog stuck out his long sticky tongue and would have caught at least a dozen of the dragonflies had they not dodged in time.

Just then the Ox strolled down to the stream. He was thirsty and wanted a drink.

The dragonflies trembled in fear and rose up in a great shining cloud far above the reach of the Ox's curving horns and long tail.

The Ox drank his fill and walking away from the stream, settled down for a nap.

The old Frog on his lily pad saw the Ox and wondered what all the fuss was about. The terrible monster was nothing but a silly old Ox! And not a very large one either! When the Ox had walked away, he called out. 'Hey. dragonflies, was this your terrible monster?'

The dragonflies rustled their shining wings and replied. 'Yes, yes. Frog! Did you see how big he is?'

The Frog laughed scornfully. 'Big? You call that big? Why, I can be twice as big as that if I want to! Watch!"

And the Frog took a deep breath, huffed and puffed and swelled up like a balloon.

'There! Am I not as big as him now?' he asked the watching dragonflies, speaking with a little difficulty.

'Oh no. Frog, not yet!' cried the dragonflies. 'The monster is MUCH bigger. Look at him sleeping in the grass! He looks huge!'

'Well, then. Watch me!' said the Frog. He took a deep breath, huffed and puffed and swelled up some more. 'I must be bigger than him now!' he gasped.

'Ah no, Frog.' Cried the dragonflies.

'The monster is MUCH bigger!'

The Frog was quite irritated with the dragonflies. His skin was feeling tight and stretched. It was difficult to sit As he felt he would roll over any moment and his cheeks were so puffed that his eyes were almost squeezed shut. He could barely see over his huge belly. He was sure he must be at least as big as the Ox by now! He decided to make one more attempt. He would show the dragonflies who was bigger!

"Watch me,' he squeaked with great difficulty.

He took as deep a breath as he could manage, huffed and puffed and swelled. He blew and he blew and he blew and he grew larger and larger and larger till suddenly.

POP!

The Frog had burst!

The Indigo Jackal

In a jungle there lived a pack of jackals. They would hunt together to eat from the left-overs of the lion's meal. One of the jackals was getting a little old. All the younger jackals bullied him and did not allow him to share the food.

"I have to do something to satisfy my hunger. Like this, I will not survive for very long," thought the jackal to himself.

He decided to leave his pack and go in search of food. He wandered around for many days but could not find any food. Everywhere he went, other animals chased him away.

Finally he decided to venture into the village in search of food. After nightfall, the jackal walked down the village streets in search of food. Suddenly a pack of dogs began to chase the jackal. Scared for his life, the jackal ran as fast as his weak legs could carry him. Finding no way of escape, the jackal jumped into the first open house he found.

Suddenly he found himself in a vat of foul smelling liquid. It was a vat of indigo dye. The house belonged to the village washer man. When the jackal climbed hurriedly out of the liquid and peered out fearfully, the dogs which were waiting for him outside, let out a howl and ran away with their tails tucked between their legs. The jackal was surprised. But finding the dogs gone, he carefully went back into the jungle.

The jackal went to the water hole in the jungle to quench his thirst. As the jackal went closer, all the other animals which had come there ran aw ay in panic. The jackal looked around in surprise to see what had frightened them. But he saw nothing wrong. He was very thirsty and so went to the water hole to quench his thirst. As he bent down to drink, he was shocked to see a strange looking creature in a brilliant and unearthly color looking up at him from the water. The jackal was first frightened, but soon realized that he was looking at his own reflection. He remembered the foul smelling liquid into which he had fallen. "So that is why all those dogs and all these animals in the forest were afraid!" he reasoned to himself. His cunning mind thought of a plan quickly.

He called out to the frightened animals. "Do not be afraid of me. I have been sent down by Brahma to protect you." The animals all believed him at once and made him king.

As the days went by, the jackal became prouder and lazier. He did not have to look for food any longer. His subjects would bring him food to cat and take care of every need of his. The jackal was very happy with his life.

One full moon night, the pack of jackals to whom the jackal had belonged before began to howl at the moon. The indigo jackal had not heard his brothers howl for a long time. The urge to howl was too strong for him to control. He threw back his head and began to howl to his heart's content.

The other animals were astonished to hear their heaven sent king howl like a common jackal. And soon they realized their mistake.

"This is no extraordinary animal sent by Brahma. He howls like a jackal," said the bear. "Yes. He is calling out to the other jackals." "He has fooled us." "He has to be punished," said several other animals. "Come let's teach him a lesson." The animals joined together and gave the indigo jackal a severe beating.

The Jackal and The War Drum

Once in a forest there lived a jackal named Chandu. He was too lazy to hunt for his food. He often chased away younger jackals who would catch a prey and eat it himself.

All the other jackals were upset with him. They all got together and decided to get rid of Chandu. None of them was as big as he, and could not challenge him individually. "This is getting beyond control," said one jackal.

"We make all the effort and kill a prey and Chandu comes and claims it."

"I have an idea," said another jackal.

"We will take turns catching prey. And while one of us has his food, the others together will keep Chandu away. He is no match for all of us."

Things became very difficult for Chandu after that. He could no longer snatch food from the other jackals. They all attacked him together and chased him away. They would not even allow him to hunt in that part of the forest any more.

Chandu wandered far away into another part of the forest. At last he came to the farthest part of the forest. By now, he had not eaten for many days. He was feeling very weak and tired. "I have to find some food soon or else I will die," he thought. As he wandered around, he came to an abandoned battle field.

Suddenly, there was a loud and frightening noise. "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Chandu was filled with fear and turned and ran away as fast as he could. After running a short distance, Chandu stopped. He could still hear the sound. But it was not coming closer. "I must be brave and find out what is causing that terrible sound," he decided. Chandu slowly went back to the battle field. His heart was full of dread, but he decided to be brave.

When he got there, Chandu sighed with relief. The sound was being made by a harmless old war drum lying beside a tree in the abandoned battle field. Every time the wind blew, the lower branches of the tree would brush against the drum making a loud noise.

Chandu was thrilled to find a lot of food lying near the war drum. He ate heartily till his stomach was full.

What a fool I would have been if I had run away in fear and missed all this delicious food," thought the jackal.

The Lion and The Hare

Once in a forest there lived a lion who was very proud of his strength. He would kill any animal which came in his way just for fun. All the animals in the forest were worried about their survival.

"If the lion keeps this up, none of us will be left in the forest," said the bear.

"He kills much more than he really needs to," squeaked the little hare.

"We have to come up with something to stop this massacre," said the monkey. So they all joined together and went to meet the lion.

"O king of the forest, we have come to make a small request," they all said to the lion.

"Now what would that be?" asked the amused lion.

"You are the king of the forest, but soon there will be no animals to rule over. So we beg you to stop this unreasonable killing and we promise that one of us will come to you everyday for your food," pleaded all the animals with the lion.

So from that day, the animals drew lots to decide on who was to go to the lion as his prey.

One day, the lots fell on the hare to visit the lion. All the animals consoled him and sent him on his way to meet his doom. But the hare was a clever animal. He did not want to die at the hands of the cruel lion. He saw an old well on the way. It was very deep and was a danger for all the animals. He thought of a plan.

The little hare went to sleep near the well all day. In the evening, he made his way to the lion's den. The lion was terribly hungry by then and when he saw a tiny hare coming towards him, he became furious.

"You little thing, how dare you come so late? How dare they send such a small animal? I will kill them all," the angry lion roared.

"It is not my fault, O mighty lion. There were three other hares with me. But on the way here, another lion attacked us. I just managed to escape. The other three hares were eaten by that lion,"said the hare.

"What? Another lion in my jungle? Take me to him immediately," said the lion in a fit of rage.

The hare took the lion to the well and pointed it out to him from a distance. The other lion jumped out at us from inside the well when we tried to drink some water from the well. The lion rushed angrily to the well and peeped in.

There inside the well he could see another lion glaring at him. What the foolish lion did not realize in his anger was that he was looking at his reflection. He roared angrily at the other lion. He heard an answering roar.

It was only the echo of his own roar. But the lion thought that the other lion was challenging him. He jumped in and landed inside with a loud splash. And that was the end of the wicked lion.

The Lazy Dreamer

Once, in a small village, there lived a poor Brahmin. He was very learned, but did nothing all day. He lived on the alms the villagers gave him every day.

One day, as usual, the Brahmin got up in the morning, performed his morning rituals and set out to beg for alms. As he went from door to door, people gave him several things. Some gave dal. Others gave him rice and yet others gave him vegetables. But one generous lady gave the Brahmin a large measure of flour.

"Ah! What good luck. I will not have to beg for alms for a long time," thought the Brahmin to himself.

He went home and cooked his lunch. After he had eaten, the Brahmin put the flour into a large mud pot and hung it near his bed. "Now, it will be safe from rats," he said to himself as he lay down in his cot for an afternoon nap.

He began to think, "I will save this flour until there is a famine. Then I will sell it at a very good price. With that, I will buy a pair of goats. Very soon, I will have a large flock of goats. With their milk, I will make more money. Then I will buy a cow and a bull. Very soon I will also have a large herd of cows. Their milk will fetch me a lot of money. I will become very wealthy. I will build for myself, a huge palace and get married to a beautiful woman... Then we will have a little son. I will be a proud father. In a few months my son will start crawling. He will be mischievous and I will be very worried that he may come to some harm. 1 will call out to my wife to take care of him. But she will be busy with house work and will ignore my call. I will get so angry. I will kick her to teach her a lesson like this..."

The Brahmin threw out his leg up. His foot hit the pot of flour hanging overhead and it came down with a resounding crash, spilling the flour all over the dirty floor. The lazy Brahmin realized that his foolishness and vanity had cost him a precious measure of flour. The laziness and foolishness taught him a lesson. Thereafter he lived an active life which took to heights.

The Merchant and The Foolish Barber

In a small town there lived a merchant named Harshakar. He and his wife were very generous and kind. Everyone in the town knew them and visited their house and enjoyed their hospitality.

One day. Harshakar lost all his ships in a storm at sea. They were loaded with valuable cargo. All the people who had lent him money for trading demanded immediate repayment. Harshakar had to sell all his possessions and pay them. In the end he was left with nothing.

Along with his wealth, all his friends also left him. Harshakar was very discouraged. "Even my friends have deserted me. They just liked my wealth," he thought bitterly.

"I have nothing to give my wife and children except pain and suffering. Maybe it is better to end my life. I can't bear to see them suffer." With such disturbed thoughts, Harshakar went to sleep.

That night he had a strange dream. A monk appeared in his dream and said, "If you touch me on my head with a stick I will change into enough gold to last many lifetimes." In the dream Harshakar saw himself touching the monk with a stick and the monk turning into a huge pile of gold coins.

The next morning Harshakar woke to the sound of someone knocking at the door. "Can my dream be true? Will I ever become rich again?" thought Harshakar to himself.

"The barber is here for you," called out his wife from the door.

"How foolish of me to believe in a dream. It will never come true," said Harshakar to himself as he sat down for his shave. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Harshakar got up and opened the door. To his surprise, there stood a monk looking at him silently and meaningfully.

Harshakar picked up a stick and in a daze, touched the monk on his head with it. And there in front of him was a huge pile of gold coins. Harshakar was overjoyed. He sent the barber away with a generous measure of gold coins, advising him to keep things to himself.

The barber was a greedy man. He was also very foolish. "So when you hit these monks on the head, they change into gold. Now I know how to become rich. I am tired of shaving and cutting people s hair and earning a rupee or two, he thought."

He went to a monastery and invited a few monks to his house for a feast As soon as the monks entered his house, the barber took a stick and started to beat them on their heads. The poor monks were terrified. One of them managed to escape from the barber's house and called the soldiers for help. The soldiers arrested the barber and took him to the Judge.

"Why did you beat the monks with a stick?" asked the judge. "When Harshakar hit a monk on his head, he turned into a heap of gold," answered the barber.

The judge called Harshakar and asked him if that was true. Harshakar explained the whole story to the judge in detail. On hearing the story, the judge realised that the barber had acted due to greed and dishonesty and punished the foolish barber.

The Foolish Lion

In a forest there lived a lion. He had grown old and could not run fast anymore. As days went by it became more and more difficult for him to hunt.

One day while he was wandering through the forest in search of food, he came across a cave. He peeped in and smelt the air inside the cave. "Some animal must be staying here," he said to himself. He crept inside the cave only to find it empty. "I will hide inside and wait for the animal to return," he thought.

The cave was the home of a jackal. Everyday, the jackal would go out in search of food and return to the cave in the evening to rest. That evening, the jackal after having his meal started towards home. But as he came closer, he felt something wrong. Everything around him very quiet. "Something is wrong," the jackal said to himself. "Why are all the birds and insects so silent?"

Very slowly and cautiously, he walked towards his cave. He looked around him, watching for any signs of danger. As he got closer to the mouth of the cave, all his instincts alerted him of danger. "I have to make sure that everything is alright," thought the jackal. Suddenly, he thought of a plan.

The clever jackal called out to the cave. "Hello my good cave, what happened to you today? Why are you so quiet?"

The jackal's voice echoed deep inside the cave. The lion, who by now could control his hunger no longer, thought to himself, "I think it is because I am here that the cave is silent. Before the jackal realizes that something is wrong, I should do something."

The jackal continued to call out, "Have you forgotten our agreement cave? You are supposed to greet me when I return home." The lion tried to make his voice sound hollow and called out from within the cave, "Welcome home my friend."

The birds chirped loudly and flew away on hearing the lion's roar. As for the jackal, he shook with fear. Before the hungry lion could pounce on him and eat him up, the jackal ran for his dear life as fast as his legs could carry him.

The lion waited for a long while for the jackal to enter the cave. But when the jackal did not come in, the lion realized that he had been fooled. He cursed himself for his foolishness that made him lose a prey.

The Lion and The Woodcutter

There once lived a lion, the king of the forest. He was always accompanied by a jackal and a crow. They followed him every where and lived on the remains of his food.

In a village close to the forest there lived a woodcutter. Everyday, he would go into the forest with his axe to chop wood.

One day as the woodcutter was busy chopping a tree, he heard a noise behind him. Turning around, he saw the lion looking straight at him, ready to pounce. The woodcutter was a clever man. He quickly said, "Greetings... King of this forest. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The lion was surprised. "A pleasure to meet me? Are you not afraid of me?"

"I respect you a lot...lion. I was hoping to meet you. You see, my wife is an excellent cook. I wanted you to taste her dal and vegetables."

"Dal? Vegetables? Don't you know that I eat only flesh?" asked the lion in surprise.

"If you taste my wife's cooking, you will stop eating flesh," said the woodcutter proudly.

The lion was very hungry and he accepted the woodcutter's food.

"Good that the Jackal and the crow are not with me today," thought the lion. "They would laugh at me."

The lion was surprised to find that the food was indeed very tasty. "I have never eaten such good food," he said.

"You are welcome to share my food everyday, O king. But no one should ever know about our friendship. You must come alone."

The lion promised. Everyday, the lion would eat lunch brought by the woodcutter and their unusual friendship grew to be stronger day by day.

The crow and the jackal were anxious to know why the lion had stopped hunting. "We are going to starve to death if the lion does not hunt anymore," whined the jackal.

"You are right," said the crow. "Let us try to find out what has happened to the lion." The next day they followed the lion from a safe distance and saw him eating the lunch the woodcutter brought for him.

"So this is why the lion does not hunt anymore," said the jackal to the crow. "We have to get the lion to share his food with us. Then may be we can break his friendship with the woodcutter and the lion will start hunting his prey again."

When the lion came back to his den that evening, the crow and the jackal were waiting for him. "My lord, why have you forgotten us? Please let us all go hunting like we used to," pleaded the crow and the jackal.

"No! I have given up eating flesh, ever since I met a friend who changed me from my old ways," said the lion.

"We would also like to meet your friend," said the crow.

On the following day, the wood cutter was as usual waiting for his friend the lion. Suddenly, he heard voices. The woodcutter was a very careful and clever man. He immediately climbed a tall tree. In the distance, he could see the lion approaching. With him were a crow and a jackal. "With those two around, my friendship with the lion will not last very long," he said to himself.

The lion came over to the tree and called out to the woodcutter, "Come down and join us. It is me your friend."

"That may be so," called out the woodcutter. "But you have broken your promise to me. If those two can make you break a promise, then they can make you kill me also. You can forget our friendship."

The Merchant and The Money Lender

In a small town, there lived a merchant. He ran a small business. Unfortunately, he lost all his money in business. "I can't stay like this. I have to do something. I will go to the next town and invest in another business," he thought to himself.

So he made arrangement for his departure. He took all he had and prepared to leave. There was an iron weighing balance which he could not take along with him. So he took it to his friend the money lender. "Friend, I am going on business to the next town. Will you please keep this iron balance for me till I return?" requested the merchant.

"Surely. Why not? May you prosper more than before and return," wished the money lender.

The merchant did very well in the next town and after a while had earned a good amount of money. He decided to go back to his home town. He returned home a rich man.

He went to his friend the money lender. "Hello friend, I am back. Can you please return my iron weighing balance? I will need it to resume my business here." It was a good weighing balance and the money lender was a selfish man.

So he said, "I am very sorry my friend. I kept your iron balance in my store room, but the rats ate it up."

The merchant knew that his friend the money lender was lying. He pretended to believe him and then asked, "My friend, I want to take a bath in the river. Will you send your little son with me? I want him to keep an eye on my clothes and my money bag."

The money lender readily agreed and sent his little son along with the merchant. The merchant took the little boy and locked him up in a place in the outskirts of the town and went back to the money lender.

He said, "I am very sorry my friend, while I was walking down to the river with your son, an eagle swooped down and carried him away."

"You are lying," shouted the money lender angrily. "Return my son or I will take you to the judge."

"Come, let us go," said the merchant.

Hearing the merchant's story about the eagle, the judge said, "Are you trying to fool me? How can an eagle fly away with a boy?"

"If rats can eat an iron weighing balance, why can't an eagle fly away with a boy?" asked the merchant.

"Explain yourself," ordered the confused judge. After listening to the whole story, the judge could not help smiling. He turned to the dishonest money lender and said, "He paid you back with the same coin. Return his weighing balance to him and he will return your son to you."

The Owl and The Swan

Once there were two friends Harsha the owl and Sumitra the swan. Sumitra was the king of the swans. But Harsha was an ordinary owl. He was afraid to let Sumitra know that he was a poor owl. So he told Sumitra that he was also a king and also had subjects. Everyday the owl would fly to the pond where the swan lived.

One day as usual, Harsha flew to the pond to meet his friend. "Good morning Sumitra, how are you today?" he asked.

"Good morning my friend, I am fine. Just caught up with the usual work of a king - solving disputes among my subjects," replied Sumitra.

Just then, one of Sumitra's subjects came up to him and whispered something in his ear.

"Oh!" exclaimed Sumitra. "Harsha, please give me a moment. I have to settle another dispute between two of my subjects."

"Very well Sumitra," answered the owl. "I will wait right here." After Sumitra left to find his subjects, Harsha thought to himself, "If Sumitra comes to know that I am just an ordinary owl, he will stop being my friend. I have to impress him."

As Harsha was flying through the woods in search of food, he saw a camp of soldiers and their commander. He suddenly got an idea. He flew back to the pond and called Sumitra. "I want you to visit my kingdom," invited the owl.

"One day I will surely visit your kingdom Harsha," answered Sumitra the swan.

"Not someday," urged Harsha. "You should come today. I come to meet you everyday." Sumitra agreed and the owl took the swan to the place where the soldiers had camped.

"This is my kingdom and these are my subjects," said Harsha to Sumitra proudly. Sumitra knew that Harsha was no king. But he did not want to hurt his poor foolish friend's feelings.

"Wow!" exclaimed Sumitra.

"Are your soldiers getting ready to move?"

"No! How could they without my permission?" The Owl flew over the camp hooting aloud "Ho - hoo!" The commander heard the owl and said, "An owl is hooting. It's a bad omen. We will have to postpone our march."

The next day Harsha and Sumitra came to the same place. Just as the army got ready to move. Harsha hooted again. The army stopped again. On the third day again, Harsha hooted just as the commander mounted his horse.

"Oh this omen maker! Will someone take care of him?" shouted the commander angrily.

"This time my poor friend has gone too far," thought Sumitra the swan to himself.

A soldier stepped forward and shot an arrow at the owl perched on a branch. But Harsha spotted the arrow and swiftly flew away. Sumitra who had been next to Harsha did not see the arrow coming. The arrow hit Sumitra and he died.

"Oh my foolishness has caused the death of my good friend," thought Harsha bitterly to himself.

The Snake and The Foolish Frogs

Once a snake who had grown weak with old age came across a pond where many frogs lived with their king, queen and little prince. The snake had not eaten for many days. He tried to catch some of the frogs, but was too weak to catch any of them. "I will have to think of some solution or I will soon die," the snake thought.

Just then he saw the frog prince and his friends. They were busy in their game and did not notice the snake. When they came very close, one of them saw the snake and jumped up, "Oh, a snake," he shouted in fear. All of them ran for their lives. But when the snake did not move, the frog prince went up to it. The snake still did not move. "Let me see if he is dead?" said the frog prince and knocked on the snake's head and jumped away quickly.

The snake slowly opened its eyes and said, "Do not worry. I will not get angry no matter what you do."

The frogs were very surprised. "I once bit a sage's son," explained the snake. "The sage got angry and cursed me that I would carry frogs on my back for the rest of my life."

Hearing this, the frog prince jumped up with joy. "Then I will ride on your back," he said. So the frog prince jumped on top of the snake and commanded, "Take me to my parents."

The king and the queen were amazed at the sight. "Father, look, I am riding a snake," shouted the prince. "Let us also ride the snake," the queen urged the frog king. So they all sat on the snake.

"You are moving very slowly," complained the prince. "What can I do," answered the snake sadly. "I have not eaten for several days."

"Why have you not eaten? The royal mount should be fast and strong," said the king.

"I can eat only with your permission," answered the snake.

"Your subjects are my food."

"How can I permit you to eat us?" asked the king.

"Not the royal frogs," explained the snake. "I cannot permit you to eat my subjects," said the frog king.

The prince was upset and cried. "Father, please permit him. I don't want to loose him."

Even the queen spoke up. "Do permit the snake. How many frogs can he eat anyway? We have many subjects."

At last the king had to grant permission. The snake began to eat many frogs every day. Soon he was very strong and healthy. Now, he moved very quickly. The prince was thrilled to ride a snake that moved so fast.

One day the snake went to the frog king. "I am hungry O king. There are no more frogs left in the pond. So now I am going to cat you all."

And the wicked snake pounced on all the three royal frogs and ate them up.

The Swans and The Turtle

There was a lake at the outskirts of a small village. Two swans and a turtle who were good friends lived in the lake. They would play with each other and pass time telling stories.

One year, there were no rains and the lake started drying up.

"The lake is almost dry. We have to find some other place to live," said the turtle to the swans. "We will fly around and look for a suitable place," said the swans. Both the swans flew in different directions in search of a better place to live. A little distance away, one of the swans spotted a large lake. It had plenty of water and there were many fishes in it. He flew back to tell the others.

The three of them were very excited with the find. "Wow! Now we won't have any problem," said the turtle.

"There is only one problem," replied one swan. "The two of us can fly there in no time. But you crawl very slowly. And it is some distance away. You will never reach there."

The turtle thought for some time. Suddenly his face lit up. "I have an idea," he said. "You bring me a stick. I will hold the center of the stick in my mouth. Both of you can hold the stick on either side. That way you can fly me with you to our new home."

"It is a very good idea, but you have to make sure you do not open your mouth for any reason. If you do, you will fall to your death," warned one of the swans.

The turtle agreed.

"Remember what we told you," reminded the swans as they got ready to fly. Soon they were flying high in the sky. They had to fly over the village to get to the lake. As they flew over the village, people ran out into the streets to look at this amazing sight.

"What clever birds. They are carrying a turtle on a stick!" exclaimed one man. Every one was excited to see such an amazing sight.

"It was my idea. I am the clever one. I need to let them know," thought the turtle. He opened his mouth to explain, but before the foolish turtle could say anything, he fell with a thud and died.

The swans looked down at their dead friend and shook their heads bitterly at his foolishness. "If he had kept his mouth shut, he would be alive and happy with us," said one swan to the other as they landed at the big lake which would be their home from then on.

The Unfaithful Friend

There was a large berry tree on the bank of a river. On this tree lived a monkey called Chandu. He was a clever and good hearted monkey. He offered berries to all the animals and birds who came to the river to quench their thirst. In the river, there lived a crocodile named Magar. He lived with his wife in a cave at the bottom of the river.

One day Magar the crocodile came to the river bank to catch his prey. It was a hot and sunny day and Magar had not caught any thing the whole day. Tired and hot, he dragged himself to the shade of the berry tree for some rest. He had hardly closed his eyes when he heard somebody calling out to him. "Hello friend. I am up here."

Magar looked up to find Chandu the monkey smiling down at him. The monkey plucked a handful of juicy berries and threw them down to Magar.

"Eat these. They will quench your thirst."

"Thank you," said Magar and ate the delicious berries.

From then on, everyday, Magar would come to the river's bank and eat the berries dropped by Chandu. Both of them became good friends.

One day Magar took some berries home to his wife. She found them delicious. "Mmm... If the berries are so tasty, how delicious would the monkey's heart be that ate these berries," she said. "I want to eat the heart of this monkey."

"How can I do that?" replied Magar.

"He is my friend. How can I kill him?" But his wife would not accept no for an answer. "If you don't bring me his heart, I will starve myself to death,'' she cried.

So Magar went to meet Chandu the monkey. "My wife liked the berries you sent her very much. She wants to meet you. She has invited you home for dinner, "said Magar to Chandu.

"I would surely come," said Chandu, "but I cannot swim and you live in the river."

"Do not worry," said Magar, "I will carry you on my back."

Chandu readily jumped on to Magar's back. Magar began to swim away from the bank. On reaching the middle of the river, the crocodile began to dive under water.

"Hey! What are you doing?" panicked Chandu. "I told you I cannot swim."

"Sorry my friend," replied Magar. "My wife wants to eat your heart. So I have to kill you," said Magar.

Chandu realized that he was in grave danger. "Is it my heart you want?" he asked in an undisturbed voice. "Why did you not say so before? I would have gladly given it to you. We will have to go back because I usually leave my heart back at home when I go out."

The foolish crocodile immediately turned around and swam back towards the bank.

Chandu immediately jumped down from Magar's back and bounced up the berry tree. "You are a fool Magar. How could I be alive if I left my heart behind? You have been an unfaithful friend. Our friendship is over," said Chandu.

You can not please everyone

This is a short story to teach you that you can not please everyone. A man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said : "You fool, what a Donkey for but to ride is upon?"

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men. One of whom said : "See that lazy youngster. He lets his father walk while he rides."

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women. One of whom said to the other : "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along."

Well the Man did not know what to do. But at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said :

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor Donkey of yours - you and your hulking son?"

The man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the Donkey's feet to it and raised the pole and the Donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge and his fore-feet being tied together, he was drowned.

"That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them :

Moral : You Can Not Please Everyone.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time in a little house on the edge of the woods a girl called Goldilocks lived with her parents. One morning she woke up as the sun was streaming through her window; thinking it was time for school, she leapt out of bed.

Goldilocks pesters mum Downstairs her mother was busy “It’s far too early for school; don’t get under my feet. Why don’t you go out for a walk? You can pick me some blackberries to make a pie for dinner tonight” she grumbled.

Goldilocks went skipping into the woods swinging a basket for the blackberries. Singing to herself, she went further and further into the woods.

After a while she began to feel hungry and a little bit tired. Across a clearing in the woods she suddenly saw a cottage, “Perhaps I could get something to eat there and have a rest” she thought.

She knocked on the door but there was no reply. Gently she pushed the door and, to her surprise, it opened. Cautiously she went in. “Hello” she called, but there was no reply.

The door had opened into a kitchen and she could see on the table three bowls from which came the most delicious smell that made her tummy rumble. The bowls were 3 different sizes, big, middle sized and little, and by each bowl was a chair also big, middle-sized and little. Goldilocks scrambled onto the biggest chair because it had the biggest bowl of porridge by it. She picked up a big spoon and tried the porridge “Ouch” she cried for it was very very hot.

She moved onto the next chair and the next bowl. Picking up a middle sized spoon she tried the porridge. “Yuck” she said, for it was very very cold.

She moved onto the next chair and the smallest bowl. Picking up the smallest spoon she tried the porridge. It was perfect. So, very quickly, she ate it all up. As she was finishing it she began to hear a strange creaking sound and, just as she ate the last spoonful, the legs of the chair she was sitting on broke and she landed with a bump on the floor.

After all the porridge and the bump she felt very sleepy. So she went up the stairs to see if she could find somewhere to lie down. First of all she found a great big bed, she climbed up onto it but, oh, it was so hard.

Then she found a middle-sized bed, she climb into it but it was so soft she felt as though she would disappear in it.

Then she found a little bed. It felt just right so she climbed right into it, pulled the covers over herself and was soon fast asleep.

The three bears Just after she fell asleep the owners of the cottage came back. They were 3 bears, Daddy Bear, Mummy Bear and Baby Bear. They’d been for a walk in the woods before breakfast and now they were hungry.

“Hello, what’s this” growled Daddy Bear, “it looks as though someone’s been messing with my porridge and whoever it is has left muddy footprints on my chair”.

Mummy Bear came to look “You’re right, my dear” she said in her soft growl “someone’s been messing with my porridge too, and I’m sure the cushion on my chair has been sat on”.

Then Baby Bear began to cry “Someone’s been messing with my porridge and they’ve eaten it all up and they’ve broken my chair as well” he sobbed in his little, squeaky, growl.

Who could have done this? And where were they now? they wondered.

They looked around the house and went upstairs.

“Well” growled Daddy Bear “Someone’s been in my bed, but they’re not there now”

“Someone’s been in my bed too” said Mummy Bear “but I can’t find them”

Then they heard a squeak from Baby Bear “Daddy, Mummy, come quickly, there’s someone fast asleep in my bed”

Daddy and Mummy Bear raced into his room and stood around the bed with him looking down at Goldilocks. She woke with a start and was frightened to see three bears all looking down at her. Before they could talk to her, she jumped out of bed, out of the window and ran away through the woods back to her home because she didn’t know that they were really gentle, friendly bears.

“Well I never” growled Daddy Bear scratching his head “my Grandfather told me people were strange. Fancy, eating all that porridge and then running away”. Puzzled, the three bears went back to the kitchen where Daddy Bear mended Baby Bear’s chair while Mummy Bear made more porridge, and from that day to this bears all over the world have always known that people are strange things who are not to be trusted with porridge.

Pigeon’s Advice

Once upon a time, in a city people used to set-up bird house in side their garden as act of kindness for bird.

In that city, lived a rich man how had put up a bird’s house near his kitchen, where a wise pigeon started living.

While living there pigeon noticed that, cook of that house was very cruel person and he didn’t liked animals or birds very much.

So, pigeon always kept his distance from that cook. Pigeon would leave early morning and come back late at night to rest. Pigeon was happy and content with having a place to sleep at night.

Few days later, a crow came to that bird house because of smell of food cooked in kitchen. Crow wanted to have that fresh made meat for himself.

When pigeon noticed that he warned crow that it’s not safe to go in that kitchen as cook was a cruel person and would not spare him if caught stealing.

Pigeon advised him to look for food somewhere else but crow wanted to have that food.

Crow started to live with pigeon in that bird house and started to look for opportunity to go in that kitchen in absence of cook..

Then one day when pigeon was out, crow got an opportunity. He saw that cook had prepared fresh fish in big stew pot and while it was cooking, lid was kept bit off, to allow steam to escape.

Watching from the bird house, he saw the cook go outside to rest. Meanwhile, crow flew into the kitchen and sat on the edge of the stew pot. First he looked for the biggest piece of fish he could find.

Then he stuck his head inside and reached for it. But in so doing, he knocked the lid off. The clattering sound brought the cook into the kitchen at once.

Cook saw the crow standing on the edge of the pot, he closed the door and window of the kitchen.

Crow tired to fly away but cook grabbed him and plucked out all his feathers. Then cook threw that crow outside kitchen and closed windows.

The crow sweated and suffered from the terrible burning pain. He cried in agony all day long.

In the evening, the pigeon returned and was shocked to see the terrible state of his friend the crow. He said, “Obviously, you didn’t listen to me at all. Your greed has done this to you. I’m so sad there’s nothing I can do to save you.”

Soon crow died from pain and seeing this wise pigeon chose to fly away from that place to safer bird house.

Moral: Greed makes one deaf to sound advice.

Bird’s Revenge

Once in a forest lived a bird. She had a nest on a tree where she laid her eggs. She used to stay there and take care of her eggs.

But one day an elephant came roaming near that tree. A while later bird saw that elephant started to eat branch from that tree. Soon elephant reached for branch on which bird’s nest was built.

Seeing this, Bird requesting elephant said, “Please do not eat this branch. I have my nest on this branch and there I have laid my eggs. If you break that branch my eggs will get broken.”

Bird pleaded with him but elephant ignored her request and said, “I can’t do anything about it, i want to eat that branch..”

Just after saying that elephant broke that branch because of which bird’s nest and all her eggs fell on the ground and got broken.

Bird got very sad and began to cry but she swore that she will take revenge for her loss, done by elephant.

Bird went away and flew to the nearest village. There she went inside a temple and took a piece of sweet which was offered to God by priest.

With that piece of sweet, she went toward forest again and there she threw that piece near an ants colony.

Soon ants began to get attracted toward that piece of sweet and After a while many ants got stuck to that piece of sweet to eat it.

Bird took that piece of sweet with ants into her claws and flew back toward that elephant. As soon as she saw that elephant who had broken her nest and eggs, she threw that piece of sweet into it’s ears.

In a while, ants started biting in elephant’s ear because of which elephant felt pain and started to jump sound like mad and fell into a pit. Elephant suffered a lot.

Later Elephant got to know about what bird did and understood his fault and apologized to bird. After that elephant learned that he should never think of someone smaller that him as weak and hurt them.

Moral: Never Harm or Do Injustice to someone just because that Person is Weaker than You As Everyone have their own Strength and Weakness.

As it is Truly said, “If you can, Help Others.. if you Cannot do that, at least Do not Harm Them.”

Fox Selfish Act

Once a fox and stork used to live in same forest. One day fox invited stork for dinner at his home. Stork happily accepted his invite and next evening stork went to fox’s house.

Fox opened door and welcomed him to his home. They sat there and spent time talking. Soon it was time for dinner.

Fox bought freshly cooked soup to the table and it smelled delicious. Stork was happy to see food as it was feeling hungry and ready to eat food.

Fox was selfish and didn’t wanted to share his food despite inviting his friend stork to his home. So he served soup for both of them in shallow bowls.

As bowls were shallow, fox quickly licked up all his soup. However bowls were to shallow for stork’s long beak to have soup and because of this despite feeling hungry poor stork just smiled politely and stayed hungry.

Selfish fox with wicked smile on his face asked stork, “Why aren’t you having your soup? Don’t you like it?”

Stork calmly replied, “It smell delicious but my stomach is upset that why i can’t have it.”

Later stork left his house thanking him for dinner and inviting him to his house for dinner. Fox happily accepted his invite and next day he went to stork’s home in evening.

Stork opened door and welcomed him to his home. Both sat there talking. Soon it was dinner time.

Dinner table was set and fox saw that for dinner stork bought freshly made soup at dinner table. Fox was ready for having dinner as it smelled delicious.

Stork served soup in tall jugs and drank soup easily but as jugs were tall fox was not able to reach inside of jug with his tongue. This time it was fox’s turn to go home hungry.

After finishing her soup, stork asked fox if her enjoyed soup. Fox remembered dinner he himself had given to stork.

Fox understood his mistake and felt sorry for his behavior and left.

Moral: We should not act Selfish with others. As it is said, “What goes around.. comes around..”

Not Worthless

One day while fish was swimming closer to river bank it heard a voice saying, “How is the water??”

Fish raised her head upward to see that there was monkey sitting on on tree. Fish smiled and replied, “Water is nice and warm.”

Monkey felt little jealous and wanted to put fish down. He replied, “You should come out of water and climb up this tree. View from here is really amazing.”

Fish replied with sadness, “I don’t know how to climb tree and i cannot survive without water.”

Seeing fish sad face monkey made fun of fish saying, ”You are totally worthless if you cannot even climb a tree.”

After hearing this remark fish started to think about it day and night became extremely depressed. It started thinking to herself, “May be monkey is right. I am worthless if i can not even climb a tree.”

Another fish in river noticed that fish was looking all depressed and asked it for reason of depression.

Fish told her everything about monkey and his comment. After listening to this another fish laughed and said, “If monkey things you are worthless because you don’t know how to climb a tree then even monkey is worthless as it cannot swim or live under water..”

Hearing this fish realized how gifted it was and it was wrong of her to think of herself as worthless as monkey said.

Few days later monkey slipped and fell into water and died as it didn’t know how to swim. After knowing about monkey’s demise fish felt thankful to nature and was happy to have such amazing ability.

Moral: People tend to think of Themselves based on Judgment of Other’s. We should not let our self Down just because Some other person think Less of us. We should try our best and do what we are capable of doing.

Only way to Realize our True potential is to become Self aware. The more awareness we bring into our mind and body, the more we realize our True Potential.

As Einstein quote, “Everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”.

Hare Who was Very Friendly

Once in a forest lived a hare who was very friendly with all other animals in forest. He nature was generous and would always help other in need. He was very popular among other animals and loved by them.

One day he was resting. Suddenly he sensed that a pack of hounds was running towards his place. Hearing that hare left that place and started running. He ran until he couldn’t run any more. So after he got tired he sat by roadside to rest.

Just after a while he saw a horse passing by, this filled his heart with hope. Hare approached him and said, “My friend, please help me! Hounds are after me. Please carry me on your back to other place.”

Horse became afraid and said, “Sorry am in a hurry but look there is your friend bull. Ask him for your help.” and left.

Hare ran toward bull and asked him for help, “Please help me friend, Please take me on your back and help me escape from hounds.”

“Sorry I can’t help you. I am off to join my heard but see there is your friend goat. Ask him to help you.”, saying this bull left from the scene.

Hare ran toward goat and pleaded for help but even goat gave some excuse and left.

Next hare saw sheep and asked him for help but even sheep refused to help saying, “Sorry my friend, right now am very weak and i would only be hindrance rather than help. but i am sure you will find a way to save yourself. ”

Now, hare can hear hounds getting close to him and he knew that his end is close. At this time he thought, “What kind of friends they were? In time of my need they all scatter like autumn leaves in a breeze.”

Moral: We should think twice before making friends. A friend should be such a way that he or she should help you in any situation. You should be aware of good friends and bad friends before making friendship. Do not become fool while making friendship.

Goat and Horse

Once there was a farmer who had a goat and a horse. One day horse become ill so farmer called veterinarian.

Vet said, “Your horse has a virus. He must take medicine for three days. I will come back and give him medicines for three days And on third day if he is still not better we have to kill him.”

Goat listened to all this conversation. Next day vet started medicine for horse. Vet gave him medicine and left.

After vet left goat approached the horse and said, “Be strong my friends or else they are going to put you to sleep forever.”

Similarly on second day vet left after giving horse medicine. Goat came to horse and said, “Come on buddy get up or else you are going to die!! Come on get up..!!”

On third day, after giving horse medicine vet examined horse and said to farmer that, “Unfortunately we have to kill him. Otherwise the virus might spread and infect other horses.”

This time after vet left again goat came to horse and tried to help him.

Goat said, “Listen friend, Its now or never!! Get up, come on have courage!! Come on get up!! That’s it, Come on get up slowly. Great! come on, One, Two, Three… Good rum faster..!! Run Run More!! Yes, You did it!! ow you are champion..”

All of sudden the farmer came back, saw the horse running in the field and began shouting, “Its miracle! My horse is cured. We must have a grand party. LETS KILL THE GOAT.”

Moral: This often happen in life and work place. No one truly knows who deserves the merit of success and contributing toward success. Who is actually contributing the necessary support to make things happen. Be Grateful.

Remember “To Live Without Recognition is a Skill”

Fox and Mother Duck

A mother duck and her little ducklings were on their way to a lake one day. The ducklings were very happy following their mother and quack-quacking along the way. All of a sudden the mother duck saw a fox at a distance. She was frightened and shouted, “Children, hurry to the lake. There’s a fox!”

The ducklings hurried towards the lake. The mother duck wondered what to do. She began to walk back and forth dragging one wing on the ground. When the fox saw her he became happy.

He said to himself, “It seems that she’s hurt and can’t fly! I can easily catch and eat her!” Then he ran towards her.

The mother duck ran, leading the fox away from the lake. The fox followed her. Now he wouldn’t be able to harm her ducklings. The mother duck looked towards her ducklings and saw that they had reached the lake. She was relieved, so she stopped and took a deep breath.

The fox thought she was tired and he came closer, but the mother duck quickly spread her wings and rose up in the air. She landed in the middle of the lake and her ducklings swam to her. The fox stared in disbelief at the mother duck and her ducklings. He could not reach them because they were in the middle of the lake.

From this Story we know, Some birds drag one of their wings on the ground when an enemy is going to attack. In this way they fool their enemies into thinking they are hurt. When the enemy follows them this gives their children time to escape.

Moral: Parents risk their life to save life of their children..!!

Falcons on Branch

Once upon a time there lived a generous, kind – hearted king. He was fond of birds and animals and had a huge bird sanctuary in his reign. He disliked harming the animals and birds and even did not kill them for the sake of eating meat.

Owing to his generosity and kindness towards birds, he was gifted two beautiful falcons by his fellow businessman. Those two falcons belonged to a different place and lived in a different climatic condition. The king thanked the businessman and ordered the head of the bird trainer to provide all the facilities to those beautiful falcons and make them feel comfortable in their country. The head trainer took the birds and provided all essentials to help the birds adapt to the atmosphere. Gradually, the birds got adapted to the country’s atmosphere.

One day the king wanted to see the falcons fly as he heard that one of those falcons fly to great heights at a very high speed.

The king was quite surprised and rewarded the bird trainer with handful of gold coins. He enquired about the other falcon. The bird trainer stated with regret that the other falcon did not move even a step from the day one and just sat on the branch. The trainer also added that he tried everything best he could do and still he failed to make this bird move.

The king consoled him and told the trainer that he would bring someone more experienced than him or an old man who knew about falcons.

The king announced about his requirement to make the falcon move and fly. Hearing this announcement, an old man reached the King’s palace and assured him that he would make the bird fly like the other one.

The king asked the head trainer to take the old man to the sanctuary to train the falcon and he told that he would visit them the next day to see if there was any change.

The next day, the king was very surprised to see the other falcon fly like the first one to great heights in rapid speed. The king was too happy and rewarded him handful. The king asked what he had done to make the bird fly in a day. The old man simply replied, ‘I just cut down the branch of the tree where the falcon used to sit.’

Many of us are like this. We have wings to fly, we know how to fly, and where to fly still we sit doing nothing or doing something that makes us inferior to others.

Moral: Don’t try to walk when you have wings to fly!

The Three Fishes Story

Once upon a time, there lived three fishes in a pond. They were close friends and were living together for years, in the same pond.

One day, a fisherman passing through the way saw that the pond was filled with fishes. He was surprised and delighted, and immediately informed his fellows about it. Together, they decided to come the next morning and catch those fishes.

One of the three fishes, who was also the wisest, heard the conversation between the fisherman and his fellows.

It immediately rushed to the other two and explained them the entire situation, and also suggested that they leave the pond immediately and move to another place.

The second fish agreed and decided to move out from the pond quickly.

The third fish, however, mocked at them. He felt that the pond was their home, and they must not leave their home.

Since the other two fishes were unable to convince the third fish, they left the pond and decided to let him follow his own course of action.

The next day, the fisherman and his fellows cast their nets and caught plenty of fishes. They also managed to catch the third fish, who had refused to leave the pond, while the other two fishes, who left earlier, were saved.

Moral: One of the most prominent lessons and morals one can learn from this three fish’s story is the importance of wisdom.

The Clever Monkey

Once upon a time, a clever monkey lived on an apple tree. It was friends with a foolish crocodile that lived in the river.

The monkey shared the fruits of the tree with the crocodile every day. The crocodile’s wife learns about this friendship and asks the crocodile to bring the monkey’s heart, which could be sweeter than the fruits of the tree.

The couple invite the monkey for dinner and plan to eat his heart. The crocodile offers to take the monkey on its back, so that it can cross the river to reach home.

On their way, the foolish crocodile mentions his wife’s desire to taste the monkey’s heart. The monkey is quick to understand its friend’s intentions and tricks it by saying: “Oh, but I forgot my heart at home. Take me back so we can get it.” As soon as they reach the river bank, the monkey jumps off the crocodile’s back, and vows never to trust it again.

Moral: Remain calm and use presence of mind to get out of adverse situations.