There is enough for man’s need but not for his greed

There is enough for man’s need but not for his greed

One day an elephant decided to crush its caretaker.

Why?

In Ayodhya, a wealthy man, had entrusted his elephant to the mahout, a caretaker. Every day the greedy man stole sweets from the food meant for the elephant. The deprived elephant tolerated quietly. But one day while bathing in the lake, it picked up the mahout to kill him. People shouted for help. Fortunately, god Swaminarayan, whose childhood name was Ghanshyam, was watching from the shores. Barely six years old, Ghanshyam bravely entered the waters and calmed the elephant with his divine love. Saved by Ghanshyam, the mahout resolved to change his life.

The Turtle and the Geese

A turtle lived in a pond. Two geese saw the turtle. The turtle and the geese became friends.  

One day the goose told his turtle friend, we are going on a journey will you come with us.

The turtle said, “How can I,? I have no wings.”

The geese replied.

We can  take  if you promise to keep your mouth shut and not say a word to anybody!

The turtle said, “ I can do that, take me with you!”

The geese brought a stick and each held one end of it.

The friend goose said, “Hold the middle of the stick with your mouth and don't say a word to anybody until we reach home !”

The geese then sprang in the air with the turtle between them, holding fast the stick .

The children below saw the turtle flying in the air. They laughed and laughed. The turtles’ pride was deeply hurt, and he opened his mouth to say, “If I am carried on a stick what business is it of yours.”

The moment he opened his mouth he fell down and died.

Moral: Disaster can come from opening your mouth at the wrong time.(A Buddha Story)

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

Arabian Nights

Sham S. Misri

Hundreds of years ago professional story tellers in India and the Middle East made up the stories now known as ‘Arabian nights.’ Later on, groups of these stories were put together. One group was translated from Arabic to French by Antonie Galland in early 1700’s. His, ‘A Thousand and One Nights, introduced these Oriental tales to the Western world.

All the collections have one thing in common. A heroine, Scheherazade, tells different stories. She recites the tales for a very good reason: She must save her life.

The heroine was married to Sultan Shahriyar, who had killed his first wife when she was unfaithful to him and then all his later wives in revenge against women. Scheherazade did not want to suffer the same fate. On her wedding night she began to tell her husband a story and stopped just before she reached the end. The Sultan allowed her to live another day in order to hear the end of her tale. The next night she finished the story and began another one even more fascinating than the first. Again she stopped before the ending, gaining another day of life.

And so it went, for a thousand and one nights. Finally the Sultan realized that Scheherazade was a good and faithful wife, and the couple lived happily ever after.

One story from Arabian Nights is :

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

(A story for children)

Sham S. Misri

Once a magician poses as a long lost uncle to the innocent Aladdin. The two leave the city and arrive at a secret place, where the magician burns a fire, throws powder on it, and says some magic words. The earth trembles, and opens, revealing a flat stone with a brass ring over it. With the help of more magic words, the stone is moved and steps appear.

“Go down” said the magician. “At the foot of the steps you will find an open door leading into three large halls. Fold up your gown and go through them without touchkng anything, or you would die instantaneously. The halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on till you come to a place in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains and bring it to me.”

The magician drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruits of the trees and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the cave.

The magician cried out in great hurry, “Make hurry and give me the lamp.” This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back into the place.

The magician left Persia for ever, which simply showed that he was no uncle of Aladdin, but a cunning wizard who had read in his magic books about a wonderful lamp which would make him the most powerful man in the world.

Though the wizard alone knew where to find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another. The wizard had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, planning to get the lamp and kill him afterwards.

For two days Aaladdin remained in the dark, crying, nostalgic and lamenting. Atlast he clapped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Instantly an enormous and frightful genii rose out of the earth, saying, “what do you want from me? I am the slave of the ring and would obey you in all things.

Aladdin fearlessly replied, “Carry me out from this place.” There upon the earth opened and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could tolerate the light he went home, but fainted on the treshhold. When he came home he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden. The fruits that he had gathered were in reality precious stones.

He then asked his mother for some food.

“Alas, child,” she said, “I have nothing in the house but I have spun a little cotton, go and sell it.”

Aladdin was upset. He told his mother to keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead.

As the lamp was very dirty she began to rub it, so that it might fetch a good price. As she rubbed the lamp a genie appeared. Aladdin's mother was afraid, but the genie said, “Order me and I will get anything for you.”

She fainted away, but Aladdin quickly snatched the lamp and said boldly, “Fetch me something to eat!”

Immediately the genie returned with a golden bowl, and six silver plates containing rich yummy and delicious dishes. Aladdin and his mother relished. There after the genie was their slave. Aladdin then ordered to make beautiful house and that way they became very rich.

The Three Companions

Sham S. Misri

Every year cholera visited a very big city . Her companions were always Death and Fear. One year it so happened that Fear came before Death and Cholera, and the gate-Keeper, who did not Know her, let her go into the city.

When the other two appeared before the gate of the city, the watch man called angrily, “So! You come again to bring sorrow and misery, do you? And how many victims are you going to take this time, cursed Cholera?’’

“Don’t carry on so,’’ Cholera said. “ l won’t take more than five hundred.”

“And you, dreadful Death,” the gate -keeper cried, turning to her, “How many people are you going to take out of city to your kingdom?”

“Oh I’ll take whatever cholera gives me,” Death answered quietly.

“Well,” the gate-keeper muttered, “go in. But watch out, Cholera. “Don’t take more than five hundred victims. You’ve promised? And you, Death, don’t you dare to take more than what Cholera gives you!”

“Gate- keeper,” they said together, “you can rely on our word.” And side by side they passed through the open gate into the city.

Three long weeks they remained there and then they called to the gate- keeper to open the gates again.

“Hum,” the gate – keeper muttered,” how many victims do you take, Cholera?”

“I did my best not to go beyond the promised number,” Cholera answered. “And so l am taking not more than four hundred and ninety.”

“Now, that sounds as if you’re telling the truth,” the gate – keeper said.

He turned towards Death. “And you Death, how many are you taking with you?”

“Oh, I’m taking more than a thousand with me,” Death answered at once.

The gate- keeper was horrified. “How can that be ?” he cried in astonishment. “Cholera herself said she’s taking only four hundred and ninety !”

“Yes,” Death answered, “that’s what Cholera is taking. But most of those who died were taken by Fear, who came unnoticed through your gate. One day you’ll know, old man, that our sister Fear does more harm and causes more deaths than cholera!”

Ali Khoja and Merchant of Baghdad

In the reign of Haroun-ul-Rashid, there lived in Bagdad a merchant named Ali Khoja. He was a bachelor and was contented with the modest profits produced by his trade. He had spent some years quite happily in the house his father had left him. One night he dreamt that an old man had appeared to him, and reproached him for having neglected the duty of a good Muslim, in delaying his pilgrimage to Mecca. Ali Khoja was much troubled by this dream, as he was unwilling to give up his shop, and lose all his customers.

Finally, he resolved to go on a journey to Mecca. The first thing he did was to sell his furniture and the wares he had in his shop. The only matter he could not settle satisfactorily was the safe custody of a thousand pieces of gold which he wished to leave behind him.

After some thought, Ali Khoja hit upon a plan. He took a large vase, and placing the money in the bottom of it, filled up the rest with olives. After corking the vase tightly down, he carried it to one of his trusted friends and told him:

"My brother, you have probably heard that I am going to Mecca. I have come to ask whether you would do me the favor to keep this vase of olives for me till I come back?"

The merchant replied readily, "Look, this is the key of my shop: take it, and put the vase wherever you like. I promise that you shall find it in the same place on your return."

A few days later, Ali Khoja mounted the camel that he had laden with merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time at Mecca. Like the other pilgrims he visited the sacred Mosque, and after all his religious duties were performed, he set out his goods to the best advantage, hoping to gain some customers among the passers-by.

Very soon two merchants stopped before the pile, and when they had turned it over, one said to the other:

"If this man was wise he would take these things to Cairo, where he would get a much better price than he is likely to do here."

Ali Khoja heard the words, and lost no time in following the advice. He packed up his wares, and instead of returning to Bagdad, joined a caravan that was going to Cairo. The results of the journey gladdened his heart. He sold off everything almost directly, and bought a stock of Egyptian curiosities, which he intended selling at Damascus; but as the caravan with which he would have to travel would not be starting for another six weeks, he took advantage of the delay to visit the Pyramids, and some of the cities along the banks of the Nile.

Now the attractions of Damascus so fascinated the worthy Ali, that he could hardly tear himself away, but at length he remembered that he had a home in Bagdad.

On way home, Ali Khoja decided to go to India, and so it came to pass that seven years had slipped by since he had left Bagdad, and during all that time the friend with whom he had left the vase of olives had never once thought of him or of it. In fact, it was only a month before Ali Khoja actually returned home that the friend’s wife remarked one day, that it was a long time since she had eaten any olives, and would like some.

"That reminds me," said the husband, "that before Ali Khoja went to Mecca seven years ago, he left a vase of olives in my care. But really by this time he must be dead, and there is no reason we should not eat the olives if we like. Give me a light, and I will fetch them and see how they taste."

"My husband," answered the wife, "beware, I pray, of your doing anything so base! Supposing seven years have passed without news of Ali Khoja, he need not be dead for all that, and may come back any day. How shameful it would be to have to confess that you had betrayed your trust and broken the seal of the vase! Pay no attention to my idle words, I really have no desire for olives now. And probably after all this while they are no longer good. I have a feeling that Ali Khoja will return, and what will he think of you? Give it up, I pray."

The merchant, however, refused to listen to her advice, sensible though it was. He took a light and a dish and went into his shop.

"If you will be so determined," said his wife, "I cannot help it; but do not blame me if it turns out ill."

When the merchant opened the vase he found the topmost olives were rotten, and in order to see if the under ones were in better condition he shook some out into the dish. As they fell out a few of the gold pieces fell out too.

The sight of the money roused all the merchant's greed. He looked into the vase, and saw that all the bottom was filled with gold. He then replaced the olives and returned to his wife.

"My wife," he said, as he entered the room, "you were quite right; the olives are rotten, and I have put the lid of the vase so well that Ali Khoja will never know it has been touched."

"You would have done better to believe me," replied the wife. "I trust that no harm will come of it."

The merchant spent the whole night in wondering how he could manage to keep the gold if Ali Khoja  should come back and claim his vase. Very early next morning he went out and bought fresh new olives; he then threw away the old ones, took out the gold and hid it, and filled up the vase with the olives he had bought. This done he again lid the vase and put it in the same place where it had been left by Ali Khoja.

A month later Ali Khoja returned Bagdad. The following day he set out to see his friend the merchant, who received him with open arms and many expressions of surprise. After a few moments given to inquiries Ali Khoja begged the merchant to hand him over the vase that he had taken care of for so long.

"Oh certainly," said he, "I am only glad I could be of use to you in the matter. Here is the key of my shop; you will find the vase in the place where you put it."

Ali Khoja fetched his vase and carried it home. He opened the jar. He thrust down his hand but could feel no money, but still was persuaded it must be there. So he got some plates and vessels and emptied out the olives. To no purpose. The gold was not there. The poor man was dumb with horror, then, lifting up his hands, he exclaimed, "Can my old friend really have committed such a crime?"

In great haste he went back to the house of the merchant. "My friend," he cried, "you will be astonished to see me again, but I can find nowhere in this vase a thousand pieces of gold that I placed in the bottom under the olives. Perhaps you may have taken a loan of them for your business purposes; if that is so you are most welcome. I will only ask you to give me a receipt, and you can pay the money at your leisure."

The merchant, who had expected something of the sort, had his reply all ready. "Ali Khoja," he said, "when you brought me the vase of olives did I ever touch it?"

"I gave you the key of my shop and you put it yourself where you liked, and did you not find it in exactly the same spot and in the same state? If you placed any gold in it, it must be there still. I know nothing about that; you only told me there were olives. You can believe me or not, but I have not laid a finger on the vase."

Ali Khoja still tried every means to persuade the merchant to admit the truth. "I love peace," he said, "and shall deeply regret having to resort to harsh measures. Once more, think of your reputation. I shall be in despair if you oblige me to call in the aid of the law."

"Ali Khoja," answered the merchant, "you allow that it was a vase of olives you placed in my charge. You fetched it and removed it yourself, and now you tell me it contained a thousand pieces of gold, and that I must restore them to you! Did you ever say anything about them before? Why, I did not even know that the vase had olives in it! Yon never showed them to me. I wonder you have not demanded pearls or diamonds. Retire, I pray you, lest a crowd should gather in front of my shop."

By this time not only the casual passers-by, but also the neighboring merchants, were standing round, listening to the dispute, and trying every now and then to settle matters between them. But at the merchant's last words Ali Khoja resolved to lay the cause of the quarrel before them, and told them the whole story. They heard him to the end, and inquired of the merchant what he had to say.

The accused man admitted that he had kept Ali Khoja’s vase in his shop; but he denied having touched it, and swore that as to what it contained he only knew what Ali Khoja had told him, and called them all to witness the insult that had been put upon him.

"You have brought it on yourself," said Ali Khoja, taking him by the arm, "and as you appeal to the law, the law you shall have! Let us see if you will dare to repeat your story before the Qazi."

Now as a good Mussulman the merchant was forbidden to refuse this choice of a judge, so he accepted the test, and said to Ali Khoja, "Very well; I should like nothing better. We shall soon see which of us is in the right."

So the two men presented themselves before the Qazi, and Ali Khoja again repeated his tale. The Qazi asked what witnesses he had. Ali Khoja replied that he had not taken this precaution, as he had considered the man his friend, and up to that time had always found him honest.

The merchant, on his side, stuck to his story, and offered to swear solemnly that not only had he never stolen the thousand gold pieces, but that he did not even know they were there. The Qazi allowed him to take the oath, and pronounced him innocent.

Ali Khoja, furious at having to suffer such a loss, protested against the verdict, declaring that he would appeal to the Caliph, Haroun-al-Rashid, himself. But the Qazi paid no attention to his threats, and was quite satisfied that he had done what was right.

Judgment being given the merchant returned home triumphant, and Ali Khoja went back to his inn to draw up a petition to the Caliph. The next morning he placed himself on the road along which the Caliph must pass after mid-day prayer, and stretched out his petition to the officer who walked before the Caliph, whose duty it was to collect such things, and on entering the palace to hand them to his master. There Haroun-al-Rashid studied them carefully.

Knowing this custom, Ali Khoja followed the Caliph into the public hall of the palace, and waited the result. After some time the officer appeared, and told him that the Caliph had read his petition, and had appointed an hour the next morning to give him audience. He then inquired the merchant's address, so that he might be summoned to attend also.

That very evening, the Caliph, with his grand-vizir,  and, chief of the eunuchs, all three disguised, as was their habit, went out to take a stroll through the town.

Going down one street, the Caliph's attention was attracted by a noise, and looking through a door which opened into a court he saw ten or twelve children playing in the moonlight. He hid himself in a dark corner, and watched them.

"Let us play at being the Qazi," said the brightest and quickest of them all; "I will be the Qazi. Bring before me Ali Khoja, and the merchant who robbed him of the thousand pieces of gold."

The boy's words recalled to the Caliph the petition he had read that morning, and he waited with interest to see what the children would do.

The suggestion was welcomed with joy by the other children, who had heard a great deal of talk about the matter, and they quickly settled the part each one was to play. The Qazi took his seat seriously, and an officer introduced first Ali Khoja, the accuser, and then the merchant who was the culprit.

Ali Khoja made a low bow, and pleaded his cause point by point; concluding by pleading the Qazi not to impose on him such a heavy loss.

The Qazi having heard his case, turned to the merchant, and inquired why he had not repaid Ali Khoja the sum in question.

The false merchant repeated the reasons that the real merchant had given to the Qazi of Bagdad, and also offered to swear that he had told the truth.

"Stop a moment!" said the little Qazi, "before we come to oaths, I should like to examine the vase with the olives. Ali Khoja," he added, "have you got the vase with you?" and finding he had not, the Qazi continued, "Go and get it, and bring it to me."

So Ali Khoja disappeared for an instant, and then pretended to lay a vase at the feet of the Qazi, declaring it was his vase, which he had given to the accused for safe custody; and in order to be quite correct, the Qazi asked the merchant if he recognized it as the same vase. By his silence the merchant admitted the fact, and the Qazi then ordered to have the vase opened. Ali Khoja made a movement as if he was taking off the lid, and the little Qazi on his part made a trick of looking into a vase.

"What beautiful olives!" he said, "I should like to taste one," and pretending to put one in his mouth, he added, "they are really excellent!"

"But," he went on, "it seems to me odd that olives seven years old should be as good as that! Send for some dealers in olives, and let us hear what they say!"

Two children were presented to him as olive merchants, and the Qazi addressed them. "Tell me," he said, "how long can olives be kept so as to be pleasant eating?"

"My lord," replied the merchants, "however much care is taken to preserve them, they never last beyond the third year. They lose both taste and color, and are only fit to be thrown away."

"If that is so," answered the little Qazi, "examine this vase, and tell me how long the olives have been in it."

The olive merchants pretended to examine the olives and taste them; then reported to the Qazi that they were fresh and good.

"You are mistaken," said he, "Ali Khoja declares he put them in that vase seven years ago."

"My lord," returned the olive merchants, "we can assure you that the olives are those of the present year. And if you consult all the merchants in Bagdad you will not find one to give a different opinion."

The accused merchant opened his mouth as if to protest, but the Qazi gave him no time. "Be silent," he said, "you are a thief. Take him away and hang him." So the game ended, the children clapping their hands in applause, and leading the criminal away to be hanged.

Haroun-al-Rashid was lost in astonishment at the wisdom of the child, who had given so wise a verdict on the case which he himself was to hear on the next day. "Is there any other verdict possible?" he asked the grand-vizir, who was as much impressed as himself. "I can imagine no better judgment."

"If the circumstances are really such as we have heard," replied the grand-vizir, "it seems to me your Highness could only follow the example of this boy, in the method of reasoning, and also in your conclusions."

"Then take careful note of this house," said the Caliph, "and bring me the boy to-morrow, so that the affair may be tried by him in my presence. Summon also the Qazi, to learn his duty from the mouth of a child. Bid Ali Khoja bring his vase of olives, and see that two dealers in olives are present." So saying the Caliph returned to the palace.

The next morning early, the grand-vizir went back to the house where they had seen the children playing, and asked for the mistress and her children. Three boys appeared, and the grand-vizir inquired which had represented the Qazi in their game of the previous evening. The eldest and tallest, changing color, confessed that it was he, and to his mother's great alarm, the grand-vizir said that he had strict orders to bring him into the presence of the Caliph.

"Does he want to take my son from me?" cried the poor woman; but the grand-vizir hastened to calm her, by assuring her that she should have the boy again in an hour, and she would be quite satisfied when she knew the reason of the summons. So she dressed the boy in his best clothes, and the two left the house.

When the grand-vizir presented the child to the Caliph, he was a little awed and confused, and the Caliph proceeded to explain why he had sent for him. "Approach, my son," he said kindly. "I think it was you who judged the case of Ali Khoja and the merchant last night? I overheard you by chance, and was very pleased with the way you conducted it. To-day you will see the real Ali Khoja and the real merchant. Seat yourself at once next to me."

The Caliph being seated on his throne with the boy next him, the parties to the suit were accompanied in. One by one they prostrated themselves, and touched the carpet at the foot of the throne with their foreheads. When they rose up, the Caliph said: "Now speak. This child will give you justice, and if more should be wanted I will see to it myself."

Ali Khoja and the merchant pleaded one after the other, but when the merchant offered to swear the same oath that he had taken before the Qazi, he was stopped by the child, who said that before this was done he must first see the vase of olives.

At these words, Ali Khoja presented the vase to the Caliph, and uncovered it. The Caliph took one of the olives, tasted it, and ordered the expert merchants to do the same. They pronounced the olives good, and fresh that year. The boy informed them that Ali Khoja declared it was seven years since he had placed them in the vase; to which they returned the same answer as the children had done.

The accused merchant saw by this time that his blame was certain, and tried to allege something in his defense. The boy had too much sense to order him to be hanged, and looked at the Caliph, saying, "Commander of the Faithful, this is not a game now; it is for your Highness to condemn him to death and not for me."

Then the Caliph, convinced that the man was a thief, bade them take him away and hang him, which was done, but not before he had admitted his guilt and the place in which he had hidden Ali Khoja's money. The Caliph ordered the Qazi to learn how to deal out justice from the mouth of a child, and sent the boy home, with a purse containing a hundred pieces of gold as a mark of his favor.

A Story from Arabian Nights - 

Finding Elixir of Life

Sham S. Misri

Suraj a very rich man - had lot of money, so, he never worked. One day he thought of illness and death. He knew everybody died finally. He thought of living a long life and not to die. He had heard of a king who had also wanted to escape death. The king wanted to live for a long long time. He told his friend Jagu to get the elixir of life about which he had heard from his grandfather. So Jagu set out for a journey with lot of money to find elixir of life. As Jagu never returned the king as usual died one day. The people were worried as to what happened to Jagu. The people now told Suraj that Jagu had gone to heaven and become a god to protect the saints. They also told him that the saints knew the secret of the elixir of life. He went up to the mountains to find the saints but failed. Finally he heard of the temple dedicated to Jagu where saints would worship the god Jagu, who had once set out to find the elixir of life. Suraj found this temple on the top of a hill and went inside and began to pray. He prayed for several days begging Jagu to help him find a saint who could fulfill his wish. One midnight Jagu told him, “To get the elixir of life, you would have to become a saint yourself. Since, you are a lazy man and used to comfort you cannot become a saint, as saint’s life is quite tough. Now that you have prayed I will send you to a place where no one ever dies. “This place was called “Land of Never ending life.”

With this Jagu gave Suraj a paper magic mat which was folded, and told him to sit on it. The magic paper rose high in the air. Suraj flew high in the air until he reached land of never ending life. He walked around the country and met people who lived there. The people were rich and had everything to eat. Suraj decided to stay there- and set up his business there. Time rolled on. The strangest thing Suraj found was that no one could remember anyone ever dying or getting ill. Suraj was very happy to see it all this. He thought the people living there would be the happiest people on the earth. But this was not true. People were bored and tired of their long life. Things were the same year after year. The people living there had heard of the Heaven which they could enter only after dying. So, many people wished very much to die for a change.

Suraj thought that these people were very strange. He thought that he was happy in the land of Never ending life- as he always took pleasure in the idea that he would never die. After many years things were different for Suraj. After living there for many years he began to fall homesick and got bored. He wanted to go back into his own country where it was possible for the people to die. Now Suraj remembered Jagu. He requested him for help. Soon the paper mat appeared before him. He sat on it flying high in the air. There were clouds and rain. The paper mat got wet and fell into the sea along with Suraj. He cried for help. He saw huge sharks coming towards him. He cried as loud as he could for Jagu to save him.

Suraj woke up and found himself on the floor in the lonely Jagu temple. He had fallen asleep while praying and all his adventures, -the paper mat, the land of Never ending life, and the rain and the sharks had been nothing but a dream.

A light came towards him with a message “In answer to your prayers, Jagu sent you a dream and you could see the land of Never ending life. But you begged to go back to your country so you could die. Then Jagu made you fall in the sea and sent sharks, so you could die, but you did not really want to die, and you cried for help. Then you woke up here. So you see Suraj you don’t want to live for ever, and you don’t want to die also. So the best thing for you is to go back to your home and lead a good life.’

How do mother animals know their own babies ?

Sham S. Misri

Hundreds of baby lamb live with their mother in large flocks. Each lamb seems exactly like all the others. But a mother sheep knows the difference. No matter how many lambs there are in the flock , she can always pick out her own baby, because it has its own particular odor . The minute a lamb is born, the mother sniffs at it . From then on, she remembers exactly how it smells. Deer, buffaloes, cats, dogs and many other animal mothers know their babies by smell.

A mother penguin knows her own chick. Dozens of chicks stay together in groups while the grown- up birds go fishing in the ocean for foods. When a mother gets back,  she waddles through the whole hungry crowds of babies and refuses to feed any but her own. People who study penguins are not quite sure, but they think the mother and father both recognize their baby’s voice and also its particular shape and size.

A baby penguin seems to recognize its parents’ voice. When its mother or father calls, it comes running . When a baby chick or duck hatches,  it usually sees first of all the big dark shape of its mother. From then on, it recognizes that shape and follows it. But if ducklings happen see a dog’s shape first, they will follow dog around just, as if, it were their mother. They will even follow a large stout scientist who is experimenting with ducks- if they see him first!

The Three Companions

The Three Companions

Every year cholera visited a very big city. Her companions were always Death and Fear. One year it so happened that Fear came before Death and Cholera, and the gate-keeper, who did not know her, let her go into the city.

When the other two appeared before the gate of the city, the watch man called angrily, “So! You come again to bring sorrow and misery, do you? And how many victims are you going to take this time, cursed Cholera?”

“Don’t carry on so,’’ Cholera said. ‘’ l won’t take more than five hundred.’’

“And you, dreadful Death,’’ the gate-keeper cried, turning to her, ‘’How many people are you going to take out of city to your kingdom?’’

“Oh, I’ll take whatever cholera gives me,’’ Death answered quietly.

“Well,” the gate-keeper muttered, “go in. But watch out, Cholera. Don’t take more than five hundred victims. You’ve promised? And you, Death, don’t you dare to take more than what Cholera gives you!’’

“Gate- keeper,’’ they said together,’’ you can rely on our word.’’ And side by side they passed through the open gate into the city.

Three long weeks they remained there and then they called to the gate- keeper to open the gates again.

“Hum,’’ the gate – keeper muttered,’’ how many victims do you take, Cholera?’’

“I did my best not to go beyond the promised number,’’ Cholera answered. ‘’ And so, l am taking not more than four hundred and ninety.’’

“Now, that sounds as if you’re telling the truth,’’ the gate – keeper said.

He turned towards death. “And you, Death, how many are you taking with you?’’

“Oh, I’m taking more than a thousand with,” Death answered at once.

The gate- keeper was horrified. ‘’ How can that be?’’ he cried in astonishment. Cholera herself said she’s taking only four hundred and ninety!’’

“Yes,” Death answered, “that’s what Cholera is taking. But most of those who died were taken by Fear, who came unnoticed through your gate. One day you’ll know, old man, that our sister Fear does more harm and causes more deaths than Cholera!’’

The Moon is Worth Two Suns

The Moon is Worth Two Suns

One day two Irishmen were talking about the sun and the moon and arguing as to which of the two was more useful. After long arguments one of them said, “Oh ! I know. The moon is worth two suns, because it shines at night when it is needed; but the sun shines in the daytime, when nobody wants it.”

A Lesson In Faith

A Lesson In Faith

A foolish young fellow once astonished an old clergyman by boasting. ‘’I don’t believe in anything I can’t see and understand,’’ he said.  “Do you believe there in such a country as France?’’ enquired the clergy-man. ‘’ Yes,’’ he said, “because, though l have never seen it, l know people who have.‘’ “Then you refuse to believe in anything that you or others haven’t seen ?’’ “Most certainly,‘’ said the youth. ‘’ Did you ever see your own brains?’’ “Of course not.’’ Do you know anybody who has seen them?

‘’ No.’’

“Do you think you have got any ?‘’

The young man knew that he was defeated and he hung his head in shame.

Why does a dog wag his tail ?

Why does a dog wag his tail ?

Sham M Misri

suppose one dog walk up to another, slowly wagging his tail from side to side . Dose this mean he wants to make friends ?  An expert on dog behavior has found a surprising answer . This kind of tail wagging is a sign that the dog has a habit of bossing over other dogs . If the newcomer is used to giving in, the two will perhaps get along together . But if the newcomer also gives a boss- dog wag , a

fight may easily start. If a dog wags his tail while it is tucked down close to the legs it shows that he is used to obeying.

Some tail wagging , of course , goes along with pleasure. But it is not something a dog dose because he wants to show how glad he is to see you . The movement of his tail starts automatically when his eyes tell his brain that you are there . Scientists have not done much experimenting to find what gives animals pleasure or how they show it different ways.

Marco Polo

Sham S Misri
Marco Polo travelled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in China for 17 of those years. He had his father and uncle with him. Around 1292, he left China, acting as companion along the way to a Mongol princess who was being sent to Persia. Marco Polo’s stories about his travels in Asia were published as a book  known as The Travels of Marco Polo.

Marco Polo was unable to recruit the 100 priests that Kublai Khan had requested. Finally they were left with only two, who, after getting a taste of the hard journey ahead of them, soon turned back for home. The Polos' journey took place on, land and they had to pass through harsh territory. His memory for the places and cultures he witnessed was remarkable and exceptionally accurate. Hardships, of course, came his way. In what is now Afghanistan, Marco was forced to retreat to the mountains in order to recoup from an illness he'd contracted.

Eventually, Kublai Khan employs Marco as a special envoy and he sent him to far-flung areas of Asia never before explored by Europeans, including Burma, India and Tibet. After 17 years in Khan's court, the Polos decided to return to Venice. Their decision did not please Khan. They had to escort a Mongol princess to Persia, where she was to marry a Persian prince. In the end, Kublai Khan agreed to their request. They travelled by sea and the Polos left with a caravan of several hundred passengers and sailors. The journey proved traumatic, and many perished as a result of storms and disease. By the time the group reached Persia's Port, just 18 people, including the princess and the Polos, were still alive. After two years of travel, the Polos reached Venice. They returned home after two decades, and their return to their native land undoubtedly had its difficulties. Their faces looked unfamiliar to their family and they struggled to speak their native tongue. Marco died at his home in Venice on January 8, 1324. As he lay dying, friends and fans of his book paid him visits, urging him to admit that his book was fiction. Marco wouldn't relent. "I have not told half of what I saw," he said.

Marco's story has inspired countless other adventurers to set off and see the world. Two centuries after Marco's passing, Columbus set off across the Atlantic in hopes of finding a new route to the Orient. With him was a copy of Marco Polo's book. From his travels, Marco Polo amassed not only great knowledge about the Mongol empire but incredible wonder. He marveled at the empire's use of paper money, an idea that had failed to reach Europe, and was in awe of its economy and scale of production.

The King who was betrayed

The King who was betrayed

Sham S. Misri

Once there was a king who was betrayed by his wife. And he cast off his kingdom like a snake casts its old skin. The king abandoned everything, and turned his back upon the world. And he went away into the great southern forest, for he said: Let me go where I shall never again see a human face, or hear a human voice again. So day after day he went on into the unknown depths of that terrible forest, till after a time he found himself alone with his shadow among the giant trees. And then, all of a sudden, those trees came abruptly to an end. The king looked around, and he looked, and lo! he stood on the bank of a great river, whose water was studded as far as his eye could see with a countless host of lotus flowers that coloured that region blue. And every lotus had for its lover a great golden bee, that buzzed about it in order that each lotus might think itself alone beloved. And the king marvelled at the sight of that lonely lotus haunted, bee-booming river, and he lived there till he died, alone. And if the Creator could frame those fair flowers in the midst of that wilderness to live and die with never an eye to see, surely they were better than if they had all been gathered to fade upon the hair of a million queens.

There is no solitude, man can make friendship with nature if he or she is betrayed.

Lotus of Heart.

Lotus of Heart.

Sham S. Misri

Once there was a king with many wives, who were all unfaithful and untrue to him, but one. So having to go upon a warlike expedition, he gave each of them a lotus, and said: Keep this red lotus, and show it to me when I come again ; and its colour shall be a proof of thy fidelity. For I received it from the deity, and it will never wither, so long as thou art true to me alone. And then he went away. And as soon as he was gone, all those wives with one exception amused themselves with other men. And very soon they all looked to see their lotuses, and found them withered away and dead. And they all became afraid, being conscious of their guilt, except the one. Then presently news arrived that the king was coming back. And when he arrived, all his wives appeared to meet him, rejoicing and adorned, with protestations of affection. And the king said : Show me all your lotuses. And they showed them, each her own: and lo! they were all fresh and red as when he gave them. Only that one good wife gave him a withered lotus. And she said: O my lord, I know not how it is, that all these lotuses are fresh. For here is my lotus dead and withered, contrary to your order: and yet my heart has never thought of any man but you. Then all those other wives exclaimed against her, for they hated her: and they said : king, she is corrupt, and we all know it: and now here is the proof. But the king looked at them, and he laughed. And he said: O you fools, how could a lotus remain fresh for so many months? Now are you all condemned by your own endeavours to conceal your guilt. But she alone was acquitted by her heart, and did not fear the withering of her lotus: and she alone is pure, and worthy to be my queen. For the lotus that did not wither was the lotus of her heart.

Kindness to a dog

Sham S. Misri

Once there was a dog without an owner. And it had nowhere to go, and nothing to eat: but it scraped for itself a miserable subsistence from the refuse of chance, eating and drinking out of gutters: and it was very thin, and covered with sores and wounds : for every one that saw it cursed it and abused it and drove it about, beating it with sticks and pelting it with stones; so that living in terror of perpetual death, it carried its tail between its legs, and in its sad eyes hunger fought for the mastery with fear and shame. So it continued to live, until at last its end was near.

And one day when it was so weak that it could hardly walk, there came by it along the road a bullock cart, containing a number of women who were coming from a wedding feast. And seeing the dog, they all began to jeer at it. But one of those women got down from the cart, and going up to the dog with compassion in her heart offered it a piece of cake. And the dog looked at her with wistful eyes, not understanding; for in its whole life no one had ever done it a kindness of any sort. And after a while, it wagged, very gently, the very end of its thin tail, showing a sign of thankfulness to the woman.

The Lucky Crab

The Lucky Crab

 Sham S. Misri

Chris and his sister Curly went to market for a holiday with their mother. Their father had died when they were young and their mother had taken up a job . The children had always wanted to see the beach. The mother had saved some money over the years so that they could go to a sea side town and stay there for a few days. At last their long awaited dream was fulfilled.

One morning as the two children were playing on the beach they came across a wounded crab struggling to reach the water. They had been told that crabs brought good luck . They carried the crab home and asked their mother if they could keep him as a pet . The mother said, “ we’ll be going to our village after two days and you’ll both go to school. So, who will play with the poor animal then? It’ll feel very lonely. Go, put it back in the sea.” The children did not like the idea of going back so soon. But there was no more money to pay hotel bills, so they had to leave. They decided to carry the crab on their tiny spade and put it back in water.

They found a safe looking  corner near the shore, where the current was low gently put carb in between the weeds. As they separated the weeds to make room for the crab they saw some shining object lying under the water. It was a beautiful diamond ring . They picked it and ran home to show it their mother. Then the three went to the police station to report the matter. The sergeant said, “ This ring belong to very rich cloth merchant’s wife . There’s a big reward for it . you’ll get it because you’ve found the ring. “ The children’s happiness  knew no bounds. They knew that with the prize money they could extend their holiday on the beach.

Story of Two Kings

Sham S. Misri

Once there were two kings of the desert, called ‘Haya and Gaja ' : and they were deadly enemies. Once, Gaja set upon Haya, and killed his son and captured his wives and his capital and drove him away. So being reduced to extremity, Haya entered the service of Gaja, who did not know him by sight, as a personal retainer. And while he waited for an opportunity to revenge himself, Gaja was attacked and his army destroyed by a third king, and he fled into the desert, badly wounded, with only Haya for his companion, hoping to cross over the desert and get back to his own capital and be safe. So the two went together over the desert. And having but one skin of water, they could give "Horse" and "elephant."

One of their horses died. So they went on foot. Then Gaja said to Haya : There is hardly water in this skin to carry one man across the desert; much less for two: and now our fate is sure. And they went on, and day by day the water shrank. And Haya carried the skin. And one night, as Gaja slept upon the sand, Haya remained awake.

And he looked at the skin of water, and said:

One man could cross the desert on this water, but not two. And now my enemy lies there before me. So he sat in silence, with his naked sword in his hand, alone in the desert with the twinkling stars, watching Gaja as he slept, all night long. And in the morning they went on. And as the sun grew hotter, Gaja grew fainter, for he was weakened by his wound. And he said to Haya: Let us drink, even if we die. So they drank. But Haya put shut lips to the water, and took none into his mouth. And so they went on day by day, and Gaja drank the water. But Haya only put it to his mouth, and looked at it with glittering eyes, and lips closed like the door of death.

And at last there came a day, when Gaja said:

My wound has robbed me of my strength, and now I can go no further. Moreover, the water is done. Then Haya said : Be strong: it is but one day more. But Gaja said : you go on and save yourself, and leave me here to die. And he fell upon the sand, and lay in a half-swoon.

And then Haya stooped, and took him in his arms, and staggered on. And as he went, he grew giddy, and his senses wandered, and the desert danced before his eyes. And he heard in his ears the splash of water, and the drums of the desert rang in his head, and behind him the spirits of the region of death called to one another across the sand, and laughed and mocked him as he went like one going in a dream. So he struggled on in the loneliness, while his life receded away, withering like a flower in the burning fire of that angry sun.

And suddenly he heard in his dream the voice of Gaja, crying above his head: Lo! yonder is the city away before us, and now we are saved. Then Haya set him down. And he said : O King, I am Haya, and now I have brought you over the dusty death. And he fell with his face upon the sand, and went to the other world. But Yama saw that action and remembered it: and Haya rose in the next birth out of humanity and mortality and became a spirit of the air.

Then the said: The brave prince deserved his reward.

The Story of Anne Frank

Sham S. Misri

During World War II, the Nazis ruled Germany. They were led by Adolph Hitler who wanted everyone who was different to be killed or imprisoned. One brave girl Anne Frank lived during that tragic event. This girl became famous for her diary which later became a book. Anne Frank was a young girl and many people around the world respected her. She advanced from a hateful girl to a cultivated young lady. She gave everyone vivid details about the difficult times she had faced during the Holocaust. Anne wrote much informative wisdom in her well-known diary. She was a brilliant writer who had the ability to get readers to picture what she wanted to say. She was a brave girl because she stayed strong and did not panic during the Holocaust. She was a girl who changed the world which gave her an important role because she taught a valuable lesson to all - which was - to never give up and stay strong.

Anne and her family were Jews. It meant that they had to be killed or imprisoned according to Hitler. Anne and her family, afraid to get killed or captured went in to hiding for two years. During these two tough years, Anne, a raw and a little girl developed into a mature young lady. She was a bright-minded teenager who knew what was best for her life.

Hiding in a small attic from Nazis, she had many rules to follow ; It was, because, the Frank family did not want to get caught by Nazis. “During the day we mustn’t make any noise that might be heard downstairs.” However, Anne did not like all these rules but she was still capable of following them all. She was respected for her ability and would follow all the rules in the Secret attic. Anne knew that following the rules would save her from the Nazis which made her a smart girl. Anne kept going strong and stayed bold during the Holocaust which was why she was well known then. She had been the most successful women in her time.

She lived in a small attic with a group of people and would not get annoyed. She was a nosy and naïve girl who talked and asked many questions. Everyone in the attic tried to change her attitude by lecturing her, but Anne would only listen to herself. “I have a lot to put up with and have to pretend to be deaf in order to escape the old, much-repeated ticking-off and warnings.”

The people in the attic would say that Anne was the least favourite because she rebelled against people and was extremely talkative.

The attic is a small place to live in so people have a tiny bit of patience and get mad easily. Anne was usually the one who made the whole room angry with her behaviour.
One person who had big arguments with Anne was her mother, Mrs. Frank. Anne and her mother did not bond well; Anne liked her father more than her mother and would say that she only loved her father. Her mother would often get upset because Anne never went to her for any help. She had the right to only love her father because throughout the book, her mother did not seem to be greatly caring. Her mother kept trying to get Anne to love her but Anne just did not love her mother. Her mother understood Anne’s feelings but still got upset.

“I don’t want to be cross, love cannot be forced.” Anne kept trying to love her mother but just could not which shows she tried and never gave up.

A Strange Queen

Sham S. Misri

Once upon a time there was a queen. She was strange because of her peculiar actions. She would get things mixed up. She wore her crown on her arm. She wore a shoe on her head. She painted every fingernail with different color. Then she painted her nose red! She used to fork to hold her hair in place. She wore a purple belt around her knees. But still, the king did not mind. It is so because he always wore his clothes backward!

King Probes His Love

King Probes His Love

Sham S Misri

Once there was a king. He was married to a very beautiful lady but against her own will. She was a lady of large eyes and heavy lashes. The king had developed a lot of sudden passion for her. Though married to a king, this lady was sad. So when they were united, horror and the hatred of life entered and inhabited her soul. And every time the king approached her, she would faint,  and, for the king it resembled a face of death. Then finding it impossible to come near her, that king was amazed. And he said to himself: Surely there must be for this extraordinary opposition some extraordinary cause, buried in the mysterious darkness of the past. The king thought that if I get married to some other woman she would love to have my embraces. I am quite handsome and healthy and above all the king. He tried to find out the cause of this woman’s aversion for him.  

And he went and offered sacrifice in the temple of Maheshwara. And standing before the image, he exclaimed: O god, you know of my past, present, and future, if you do not reveal to me the cause of this aversion, I will this very moment cut off my own head. Then the image of the deity uttered a loud laugh. And it said:

O foolish king, this is a very simple thing. Know, that long ago, in a former birth, you and she fell by reason of sins previously committed into the bodies of brutes. And she became a snake, and you a peacock. Hence she cannot tolerate even your closeness, for you still retain a strain of the nature of the peacock, and its vanity.

Then the king said: But why, then, do I feel no corresponding aversion for her ? And the god said : Because in another birth you were a bird of the race of Garuda, of which snakes are the appropriate food. Moreover, women retain traces of these affections and abhorrence’s more permanently than men, because emotion is of the essence of their soul: and plunged in bodies, like vats, they carry away, like pure water, the stain of the dye. So learning the truth, the king took another wife, and lived with her in peace.