He prayeth best who loveth best both great or small

(a short story)Once upon a time there was an honest and a pious man. He name was Abu-Ben-Adhem. He was once sleeping peacefully. Suddenly he woke up and saw an angel writing the name of the persons who loved God. (a short story) He inquired on him whether his name was there. But the angel said. “No, your name is not here”. He then requested to put his name in the list; because he loved mankind and his fellow brethren. (a short story)The angel took down his requests and went away. He again appeared the next night and showed Abu that his name was at the top of the list of those who received the blessing of God. (a short story)

Greed brings in disaster

(a short story)Once upon a time a greedy dog stole a piece of meat from nearby house, and holding it in his mouth he began to cross the river over a narrow bridge. While doing so he chanced to look down, and saw his own shadow reflected in the clear water of the river. (a short story)He mistook it for another living dog with a bigger piece of meat. He decided to snatch that away from that dog and thought to make a feast with the two. But while he tried to do that, he dropped down his own piece of meat, which was swiftly carried away by the current of the river. Thus, he lost his own. (a short story)

Grapes are sour

(a short story)Once a hungry fox was searching for food in the forest. After a while he came to vineyard. He was tempted by the bunches of ripe grapes. The grapes were hanging high. The fox thought of having a good meal of the ripe grapes. (a short story) So he jumped and jumped to reach the grapes. But the grapes were too high for the fox to reach. The poor fox became tired. So he went away dejected. (a short story)He consoled himself by saying that the grapes were sour and he did not want them.

A fisherman and a fish.

(a short story)Long, long ago, there lived an old fisherman and his wife. They lived in a hut beside the sea. The fisherman used to catch fish with his net and his old wife used to make thread. Thus they were passing their life. One day, the fisherman went to the sea with his net. (a short story) He threw the net and pulled it up. But there was some mud and nothing else in the net. The second time, come up some grass. The third time, a fish was caught. It was a nice golden fish.

(a short story)The fisherman was very glad to see the fish. But when he was about to touch it, it spoke out.“Oh good old man! Please, set me free and let me go. I promise, I will give you all, that you may ask for.” The fisherman was astonished. He requested the fish place him above want. (a short story)After that he freed the fish and went home. When he reached home, he became wondered seeing a palatial building with all amenities for comforts. He told everything to his wife. But his wife was very greedy. (a short story)He was not satisfied with things they got. She told her husband to demand more to the fish.

(a short story)The old man went to sea-shore with trembling steps. With tears in his eyes, he called the fish again. The golden fish came to him and said. (a short story) “Tell me, oh good old man,” The old man tried to utter the words of his wife many times but he failed. So, the fish said again. “Oh good old man! Don’t hesitate. Tell me what you want.” “I don’t want anything,” said he. (a short story) “My greedy wife has forced me to come to you once again. She wishes to be the empress of all the seas and you shall be her maid servant.” (a short story)This time, the fish said nothing in reply. With a strong lash of her tail on the water, she went down deep into the blue sea. (a short story)

(a short story)The old man got up from the sea-shore and went home with slow steps. When he reached home, he found to his surprise that his old wife was sitting in from of the old hut with the broken wooden vessel beside her.

Greatness lies in sympathy

Philip Sydney was wounded in a battle. (a short story) The bone of his thigh was broken, yet he walked about a mile and reached his camp. He was very thirsty and became almost fainted with the great exertion. He asked for a cup of water. The water was instantly brought in for him. (a short story)But when he was about to put the cup to his mouth he found that an ordinary soldier was looking at the cup wishfully. (a short story) He was so long uncared for. The generous Philip Sydney then handed over the cup to the soldier, instead of taking himself, saying: “Thy necessity is greater than mine.”

Evil has its own excuses

A mischievous dog made his bed on some sweet hay which were stored up for the ox. (a short story)The ox came in hungry and seeing the dog on the hay, requested him to go away so that he might  make a food of it. But the dog growled at him. He would not let him touch the hay though the dog would never take the hay. Rather the dog mischievously told him “I do not take it, and will never allow anybody to take it.” (a short story) The ox become disappointed and went away. (a short story)