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 realised 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 Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.

The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The

family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and

failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he

grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something

about father,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and

food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There,

Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since

Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl! When

the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as

he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions

when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on

the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the

boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in

when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started

to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be

done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the

family table. For the remainder of his day, he ate every meal with the family. And

for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork

was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Moral: You reap what you sow. Regardless of your relationship with your parents,

you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. Always Respect, Care for and Love

them.