One day a long time ago

an old Miller and his Son

were on their way to market

with an Ass which they hoped to sell.

They drove him very slowly

for they thought they would have a better chance to sell him

if they kept him in good condition.

As they walked along the highway

some travelers laughed loudly at them.

"What foolishness" cried one

"to walk when they might as well ride the donkey!

The Miller did not like to be laughed at

so he told his son to climb up and ride.

They had gone a little farther along the road

when three merchants passed by.

"Oho what have we here?"

they said to the boy.

"Respect old age young man!

Get down

and let the old man ride."

Though the Miller was not tired

he made the boy get down and climbed up himself to ride

just to please the Merchants.

At the next turnstile

they overtook some women

carrying market baskets loaded with vegetables

and other things to sell.

"Look at the old fool"

exclaimed one of them.

"Perched on the Ass

while that poor boy has to walk."

The Miller felt a bit vexed

but to be agreeable

he told the Boy to climb up behind him.

They had no sooner

started out again

than a loud shout

went up from another company of people on the road.

"What a crime" cried one

"to load up a poor dumb beast like that!

They look more able to carry the poor creature

than he to carry them."

"They must be on their way

to sell the poor thing's hide"

said another.

The Miller and his Son quickly scrambled down

and a short time later

the market place was thrown into an uproar

as the two came along

carrying the Donkey slung from a pole.

A great crowd of people

ran out to get a closer look at the strange sight.

The Ass did not dislike being carried

but so many people came up to point at him

and laugh and shout

that he began to kick and bray

and then

just as they were crossing a bridge

the ropes that held him gave way

and down he tumbled into the river.

The poor Miller now set out sadly for home.

By trying to please everybody

he had pleased nobody

and lost his Ass besides.

The Farmer And His Sons

A long time ago a rich old farmer

who felt that he had not many more days to live

called his sons to his bedside.

"My sons" he said

"heed what I have to say to you.

“Do not on any account sell the estate

that has belonged to our family for so many generations.

Somewhere on it is hidden a rich treasure.

I do not know the exact spot

but it is there

and you will surely find it.

Spare no energy

and leave no spot unturned in your search."

The father died

and no sooner was he in his grave

than the sons set to work digging with all their might.

They turned up every foot of ground with their spades

and going over with the whole farm two or three times.

Inspite of all the efforts

they did not find any hidden gold.

So they saw seeds of grain

as they tolled hard on the farm.

At harvest time

when they had settled their accounts

and had pocketed a rich profit

far greater than that of any of their neighbours

they understood that the treasure their father had told them about

was the wealth of a bountiful crop

and that in their industry

they had found their treasure.

The boy who cried wolf

Once upon a time

there lived a shepherd boy

who watched the sheep of the villagers.

One day when he was sitting at the hillside

taking care of the sheep

he got very bored.

It was lonely for him

so he devised a plan to get a little company!

He took a deep breath

and started shouting!

“Wolf.. Wolf..

The wolf is chasing the sheep

He shouted

“Wolf.. Wolf..

The wolf is chasing the sheep”

He shouted again!

He shouted again and again and again!

The villagers stopped what they were doing

and rushed to help the boy!

But when they arrived at the hill

they found no wolf!

“Where is the wolf?”

asked the villagers

The boy laughed at the sight of their angry faces!

“I fooled all of you”

he laughed at the villagers

“Don't cry wolf”

“when there's no wolf”

said the villagers

Then they went grumbling back down the hill.

The next day he shouted again

“Wolf.. Wolf.

The wolf is chasing the sheep”

The villagers stopped what they were doing

and rushed to help the boy!

He laughed as he saw villagers running up the hill again

to save his sheep!

He shouted again

He shouted again and again and again!

When the villagers arrived

they found no wolf

and they got angry!

“Didn't we tell you not to shout 'wolf'

when there's NO WOLF!?”

said the villagers.

But the boy just grinned

and watched them go back once again.

The next day

when the boy was watching the sheep

there came a REAL wolf attacking his sheep.

Alarmed he leaped on his feet

and started shouting “Wolf..

The wolf is attacking my sheep.

Please help!”

But the villagers thought the boy was trying to fool them again

so they continued with their work.

When it was about to get dark

the villagers wondered why the shepherd hadn't returned.

They went up the hill searching for the boy.

They found the boy sitting alone and weeping.

“There really was a wolf here”said the boy.

“I cried for help why didn't you come?”

One of the villager sat next to the boy and told him

“Nobody believes a liar

even when he is telling the truth”

The boy learned his mistake

and he never lied to anyone in his life again!

The Fox And The Crow

One day a hungry fox was searching for food.

He searched and searched everywhere

but he could find nothing to eat!

Then he saw a crow

flying with a fine piece of cheese in her beak!

“That cheese is for me” said the fox

and he started following the crow.

The crow sat on a branch

and was about to eat the cheese

when the fox shouted from below.

“Good day mistress Crow”

The crow was surprised

and looked down at the fox.

The cunning fox said to the crow

“How well you are looking today!”

“How fine your feathers are”

“How bright is your eye!”

“What exquisite beauty” exclaimed the fox!

Then the fox said

“Please let me hear your voice

which I'm sure will surpass all the others”

“Then I will declare you the queen of birds”

The crow was truly delighted by the compliments

and the foolish crow

even thought that her voice was beautiful!

The crow lifted up her head

and began to caw her best!

But the moment she opened her mouth

the cheese fell down

and it was snapped up by the fox!

Then the fox said

“You foolish crow

you should never trust flatterers!

Ha haa.. Ha haa..

The crow realized his mistake

and the fox then walked away!