Wicked Sons Duped!

Sham S. Misri

There was an old man who was very wealthy. When the old man was on his death bed, he called his sons. He told them that their father was old and wanted to divide his property among them. The children showed all care towards their father. However, the old man did not die for several years afterwards. The children now began to curse their father. The old mans life became miserable for many years.

Besides his fatigue and old age, the old man had to tolerate much abuse and cruelty from his sons.   Wretched, and selfish!  People would say about his sons. Earlier they were trying to please their father, to receive money, but now they have received the money, they do not care for him any more. The father was now only a trouble giving man for us, they thought. Thinking so, the sons left the poor old man to his fate.

One day, an old school friend of this sick man visited him. He wanted to know about his welfare. The sick old man narrated the whole story to his friend. His friend was shocked to hear him. He told his sick friend to act as per the plan, they had discussed and left. After some days the friend visited the sick old friend man and gave four bags full of stones and gravel to him.

"Look here, friend," said he. "Your sons will come to know of my coming here to-day, and will inquire about it. You must pretend that I came to return you a long-standing debt, and that you are richer with this money. Keep these bags under your pillow, and on no account let your sons get to them as long as you are alive. You will soon find a change their conduct towards you. Saying this he left the house, and he said, “I will come again to see how you are getting on."

When his sons knew about this further increase of wealth, they became more attentive and pleasing to their father than ever before. And thus they continued till the day of the, old man's demise. Later, when the bags were greedily opened, they found to contain only stones and gravel!