Cat and Mouse in Partnership

A cat and a mouse wanted to live together and keep house as a partnership. They
prepared for winter by buying a pot of fat, and because they had no safer spot for it,
they placed it in the church until such time that they would need it. However, one day
the cat took a longing for it, and approached the mouse. "Listen, little mouse, my
cousin has invited me to serve as godfather. She has given birth to a brown and
white spotted little son, and I am supposed to carry him to his baptism. Is it all right
for me to leave you home alone with the housework today?"

"Go ahead," said the mouse, "and if they serve you something good, just think of me.
I would certainly welcome a drop of good red christening wine." But the cat went
straight to the church and ate the top off the fat and then went strolling about the
town and did not return home until evening.

"You must have had a good time," said the mouse. "What name did they give the
child?"

"Top-Off," answered the cat.

"Top-Off? That's a strange name, one that I've not yet heard."

Soon afterward the cat took another longing, went to the mouse, and said, "I've been
asked to serve as godfather once again. The child has a white ring around its body. I
can't say no. You'll have to do me a favor and take care of the house by yourself
today."

The mouse agreed, and the cat went and ate up half the fat. When she returned
home, the mouse asked, "What name did this godchild receive?"

"Half-Gone."

"Half-Gone? What are you telling me? I've never heard that name. It certainly isn't in
the almanac."

Now the cat could not take his mind off the pot of fat. "I've been invited to serve as
godfather for a third time," he said. "The child is black and has white paws, but not
another white hair on his entire body. That only happens once in a few years. You
will let me go, won't you?"

"Top-Off, Half-Gone," said the mouse. "Those names are so curious that it makes
me a bit suspicious, but go ahead."

The mouse took care of the house and cleaned up everything, while the cat finished
off the pot of fat. Round and full, she did not return until night-time.

"What is the third child's name?"

"All-Gone."

"All-Gone! That is a worrisome name!" said the mouse. "All-Gone. Just what does
this mean? I've never seen that name in print," and she shook her head and went to
bed.

No one invited the cat to serve as godfather a fourth time. Winter soon came, and
when they could no longer find anything to eat outside, the mouse said to the cat,
"Let's get the provisions that we've hid in the church under the altar." They went
there, but the pot was empty.

"Now I see!" said the mouse. "You came here when you said you were invited to be
a godfather. First came Top-Off, then it was Half-Gone, and then..."

"Be still," said the cat. "I'll eat you up, if you say another word."

"All-Gone" was already in the poor mouse's mouth, and she had scarcely said it
before the cat jumped on her and swallowed her down.
 The Apple Trees and the Boy
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play
around it every day. He climbed to the tree-top, ate the apples, took a nap under the
shadow...He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by... the
little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day. One day,
the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.

"Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I don't play
around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them."
"Sorry, but I don't have money... but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So,
you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree
and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was
sad. One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited.

"Come and play with me" the tree said. "I don't have time to play. I have to work for
my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" "Sorry, but I don't have a
house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the
branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy
never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play
with me!" the tree said. "I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself.
Can you give me a boat?" "Use my truck to build your boat. You can sail far away
and be happy." So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and
never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I don't
have anything for you anymore. "No more apples for you... "The tree said. "I don't
have teeth to bite" the boy replied. "No more truck for you to climb on" "I am too old
for that now" the boy said. "I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my
dying roots" the tree said with tears. "I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I
am tired after all these years." The boy replied. "Good! Old tree roots is the best
place to lean on and rest. Come, Come sit down with me and rest." The boy sat
down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.......
This is a story of everyone. The tree is our parent. When we were young, we loved to
play with Mom and Dad...When we grow up, we left them... only came to them when
we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always
be there and give everything they could to make you happy. You may think the boy
is cruel to the tree but that's how all of us are treating our parent.
 The Pigeon and the Bad Crows

Once upon a time there lived a farmer. He had amassed wealth by selling the
produces that he got from his farms. He distributed that wealth to all the needy
people. So, the whole village revered him for his magnanimity. But he had a
persistent problem in his farms. Whenever he sowed seeds in his farm, the crows
would come and eat them up. He was worried about this trouble and his profit from
the farms went reduced. The contemplated the problem and came to a conclusion.

“I must do something about these crows. I will be ruined if I do not stop this
dangerous and destroying tendency of these crows," he thought. He consulted this
problem with his friends. They gave an idea to get rid of this nagging problem.

The next day, as suggested by his friends, the farmer bought a scarecrow and
placed it on the farm. The he sowed his seeds. “This season, I hope, I will get a good
harvest," he said to himself softly.

When the farmer came to his farm a few days later, he saw that crows had pushed
the scarecrow on to the ground. And the grains were all eaten. The farmer cried out,
“I am ruined." He again took this matter to his well-wishers. They decided to adopt
another idea to bring this matter to an end.

The farmer sat the whole night thinking of a plan to get rid of the crows. Finally, just
before dawn he had an idea, “I must go to the town and buy a large net. I will trap the
crows in the net," he decided. Then he went to sleep.

The farmer then bought a net and some grain. He laid the net on the farm and
spread the grain over it. Then he went and hid himself.

Soon the crows came to the fields to pick the grains. They were there. “More grains!
That farmer is indeed a foolish, he does not seem to learn," said the crows to each
other. And they laughed among themselves. But suddenly they realized that they
were trapped. They realized their foolish approach and greedy nature.

Before long, the farmer was standing over the crows. “Aha! Finally, I have got you
all. For the destruction you have caused me, I will put you all to death."

Suddenly the farmer heard a feeble voice among the noises of the crows. There was
a pigeon among the crows. Both the pigeon and the bad crows were in the net. Both
the pigeon and the bad crows were sad. The pigeon said, “Mr. Farmer, please let me
go. You are angry with the crows, not with me."

The farmer said, “But you too have been caught stealing from my farm. I will not
spare you," said the farmer. The pigeon had to pay a heavy price for having been in
bad company. The farmer did not spare the pigeon either and he killed all the birds
caught in his net. After that day, he was happy with his farm and he earned as usual
heavy profit from his harvest.
 The Selfish Crows

Once upon a time, there was a very big forest. There on a huge banyan tree lived
many crows. They were selfish and arrogant. They always quarrelled with other
birds. This behaviour irritated other birds. They had no friends, as no one liked them.

When the rainy season came, dark clouds gathered in the sky. A small mynah was
returning to her nest. When she was passing by the banyan tree, it started raining. “I
will stay here for a while until it stops raining," thought the little mynah. And I took
rest on the banyan tree for a while.

The selfish crows saw her perching on the tree. One of them shouted, “Get off the
tree. This tree belongs to us." The mynah humbly pleaded, “The weather is bad and
my nest is far off from this forest. Please let me take a rest for a while on this tree,
brother. As soon as it stops raining, I will return to my nest."

“Leave this banyan tree at once. Or we will peck you," said the other crows. The
merciless tendency of the selfish crows scared the mynah. The mynah found no
other way except to fly off. Then immediately the mynah flew off to a nearby tree,
where luckily she found a hollow in a broken branch. She took her shelter there.

Shortly after, the rain became heavy followed by thunderstorm. The wind was in high
speed. Even the leaves and branches were not enough to give shelter to the crows.
Many of the branches of many tree in which the crows had taken shelter were
damaged and hurt by the hailstones. But the mynah was safe inside the hollow place
in the tree.

One of the crows said, “Look at the mynah! How comfortable she is. Let us go there."
Another crow said, “I do not think she will let us share the hollow. We did not have
sympathy for her when she was in need of this tree." Then another crow said, “We
should not have been so rude. We forgot that we may need help someday."

Suddenly the mynah called out, “Come! My friends! Come to this hollow. Or you will
get hurt. The rain is not going to stop soon. It seems that it may rain for a long time"

The crows flew down to the hollow. They thanked the mynah. “We are sorry for
having unkind, dear friend! Now we will never be so selfish."
Then the crows took shelter in the hollow place of the tree in which the mynah had
taken her shelter. After some time, it stopped raining. All the birds flew to their
respective nests happily as new friends.
 The Naughty Lamb

Once upon a time, there was a huge forest with many tresses of all kinds. In that
forest lives a mother goat and her little lamb. They were happily living in the forest.
The lamb was very naughty. The mother goat found it difficult to manager her child,
The Naughty Lamb.

The naughtiness of the lamb found no limits. This was the problem of the mother
goat. The mother goat felt worried. Their home was near the edge of the forest. In
that location, there were many wolves in that forest.

One day, The Naughty Lamb wandered into the forest. He enjoyed looking at the tall
trees and lovely flowers. He suddenly realized that he lost his way. “Oh! My god! I
have come far away from home. Mother will be angry with me," he thought.

Out of little lamb’s sight, there was a wolf who was watching from behind a tree.
“Yummy! That lamb is exactly what I want for my lunch today," he thought, licking his
lips in anticipation.

The wolf jumped in front of the lamb and, barring his sharp teeth, said, “A little fellow
like you should not be getting into this dangerous forest. I am here going to eat you
for my lunch today."

The little tender lamb was terrified. He stood still for a moment, without knowing what
to do. Then, he gained her courage, returned and ran as fast as he could. The wolf
followed closely. The little lamb ran at her maximum speed, for a long time. The wolf
followed.

Meanwhile, the mother goat not finding her child the little lamb at home was worried.
“I hope he has not gone into the forest. I must go and look for him," she thought.

Just as she was about to get into the dense forest, she saw the little lamb coming out
of the dangerous forest. He was panting and there was a wolf chasing behind the
little lamb. The mother goat using her long horns chased the cunning wolf away into
the forest.

The mother goat ran behind the wolf for some distance into the forest and became
assured that the wolf would not come again into the nearby areas of their home.
After the mother goat came back to their home, it saw that the little lamb was
shivering in fear. Mother goat took him inside their home and when he calmed the
little one, said, “Now, I hope you have learnt a lesson that the forest is not the place
for goats like us." The little lamb just nodded. The little goat never went to the forest.
After this incident, both the mother and her child goat lived happily for a long time.
 The Stone Cutter

Once upon a time, there lived a stone cutter in a small village. All day long, he
worked hard, cutting the hard stones and making the shapes which were needed by
his customers. His hands were hard and his clothes were dirty.

One day, he went out to work on a big stone. It was very hard to work on, yet
the sun was very hot. After spending several hours cutting the stone, he sat down in
the shade and soon fell asleep.

After some time, he heard a sound of somebody’s coming. Waking up, he saw
a long procession of people. There were many soldiers and attendants of the
procession. In the middle of it, there was a king in a palanquin, being carried by
strong people.

“How happy I would be, if I were the King instead of a poor stone cutter”. As
he mumbled these words, a strange thing happened. The stone cutter found himself
dressed in silk clothes and shining jewels. He was sitting in a comfortable palanquin.
He was very happy.

The procession moved on and the sun grew hot. The stone cutter, now the
King, became too warm for comfort. As the afternoon was on, the sun grew hotter,
and the King became more and more uncomfortable.

“I am powerful, it is true! But how more powerful the sun is,” he taught. “I
would rather be the sun than a King.” At once, he became the sun, shining down the
earth. His new power was hard to control. He burned up the fields with his rays and
turned the ocean into vapour and formed great clouds which covered the land. But
no matter how hard he shone, he still could not see through the clouds.

“It is obvious that the clouds are even stronger and more powerful than sun. I
would rather be a cloud.” Said the stone cutter, which is now the sun.

Suddenly, he found himself turned into a huge dark cloud. He started using
his new power. He poured rain down on the fields and caused floods. All the trees
and houses were swept away but a boulder that he had been cutting when he was a
stone cutter was unmoved and unchanged.
 However much he poured down on the stone, it still did not move.
“Why that rock is more powerful than I am?” said the stone cutter, now a cloud. “Only
a stone cutter could change the rock by his skill. How I wish I were a stonecutter.”
Immediately after he had said the words, he found himself sitting on a stone with
hard and rough hands. Without hesitation, he picked up his tools and set to work on
a boulder again, smiling happily.

Ladies and gentlemen, the moral of the story is that, we must be contented
with whatever abilities we possess. We should not compare our abilities with others
instead we should be grateful of it and make full use of it wisely.
 The Clever Bull

There was a forest with many birds and animals. Once, a bull wandering in the forest
came upon a cave. Near the cave was a big pond and lush green grass. “This is an
ideal place for me to settle down," the bull thought. So, he made the cave his home.
Many days passed. The bull became quite healthy, grazing in the meadows. The bull
was happy and peaceful living in that cave. He had made many friends in that forest.

One day, the bull was resting outside his cave house. A lion happened to come by
that way. The lion was happy to have spotted a bull after a long time. “Aha! A bull!
He is so healthy too," thought the majestic lion, licking his lips in anticipation of a
good meal. The bull too noticed the lion. He could sense danger. I must be on my
guard now," the bull thought and decided to do something to hide himself from the
lion.

When the lion came close to the bull, the clever bull looked into the cave and called
out, “Darling, do not cook anything for dinner. I have just spotted a lion. I am waiting
for it to come near." When the lion heard the bull, he returned around and ran for his
life.

A jackal saw the lion running breathlessly. “Why are you running, Mr. Lion?" asked
the jackal. The lion told him all that had happened. “The bull has made a fool out of
you," replied the jackal. And the jackal added, “Come with me. Together we can
feast on the bull." But the lion was too scared to believe the jackal.

The jackal understood why the lion was hesitating to come with him. “Alright then!
Tie your tail with mine and let me lead you to the cave of the bull. In case the bull
attacks, then I will be the one who will get caught first," the jackal said.

The lion agreed to this plan of action prepared by the jackal. And then the lion and
the jackal tied their tails together. They set off to the bull’s cave.

Both the lion and the jackal went near the cave where the bull was. When the bull
saw the lion coming with the jackal, he thought, “I am sure that cunning jackal knows
I fooled the lion. Without panicking, the bull cried out to the jackal, “I had asked you
to being me two lions. Do you want me to keep my children hungry?"
Even this time the lion did not realize that the bull was again fooling him. He was
terrified. He ran as fast as he could run dragging the jackal with him over stones and
thorns. The clever bull outwitted his enemies and saved himself from its enemies.

Both the lion and the jackal never returned that way. Thereafter the bull lived a
peaceful and happy life with his wife and children.
The Clever Crab

There lived a heron by a big lake. He used to catch fish and eat them. But he had
become old and could not catch fish like before. He went without food for many days
together. 

“I have to think of a plan. Otherwise I won't live for long," thought the heron. Soon he
came out with a clever plan. The heron sat at the water’s edge looking depressed
and thoughtful. In the same lake lived a crab who was friendly and thoughtful. As he
went past, he noticed how the heron looked and asked him, “Why are you looking
depressed my friend?" 

“What can I say," said the heron in a sad voice. “Something terrible is going to
happen." 

“What is that?" asked the crab anxiously. 

“When I was on my way here this morning, I heard an astrologer say that there will
be no rains in these parts for the next twelve years. The lake will dry up and we will
all die. I am quite old. It does not matter if I die. But you all are so young. There is so
much for you to see and enjoy," said the heron. 

The crab went to the fishes in the lake and told them what the heron had told him.
They were all filled with fear. “Oh no! What do we do? We will all die" they cried. 

“There is a very big lake some distance from here. I can take you all there one by
one." offered the heron. All the fishes were comforted and they agreed to be carried
to the bigger lake one by one. 

Every day, the heron would fly the fishes one by one. He would hold one gingerly
between his long beak and fly away. But instead of taking them to any lake, he would
land on a rock some distance away and eat them. Then he would rest till evening
and return to the lake. 

After some days, the crab went up to the heron. “You have been taking the fishes to
the other lake. When will you take me?" he asked. 

The heron thought to himself, “I am tired of eating fish. Crab meat should be a
pleasant change." 

The heron agreed to take the crab to the other lake. 

But the crab was too large for the heron to carry in his beak. So the crab climbed on
to the heron’s back and they started the journey. After a while, the crab grew
impatient. 
“How far is the lake?" he asked the heron. 

“You fool," laughed the heron. “I am not taking you to any lake. I am going to dash
you against those rocks and eat you like I ate all those fishes." 

“I am not a fool to allow you to kill me," said the crab. 

He held the heron’s neck in his powerful claws and strangled the wicked heron to
death.
The Faithful Mongoose 

Once there lived a kind Brahmin in a small village with his wife. They had a little son.
One day, as he was returning home from a nearby village, he came across a baby
mongoose crying next to its mother’s dead body. 

“Oh! poor creature," thought the Brahmin. “If I leave it here it will surely die." He
picked it up and took it home with him. 

“Gowri, I found this little creature on my way home. Let us take care of him," he said
to his wife. “Very well along with our son, I will take care of the mongoose also,"
replied his wife. 

The mongoose grew up with a lot of love and care in the Brahmin’s house. He slept
next to the Brahmin’s son in the cradle, drank milk and played with the boy every
day. The baby mongoose’s days were full of joy in the Brahmin’s house. As both the
boy and the mongoose grew up, their friendship changed to a relationship between
two brothers. 

The mongoose grew up fast and as days went by, the Brahmin’s wife began to get
doubts in her mind. “After all, this is a wild animal. Sooner or later it will show its true
colours," she thought to herself. She put the mongoose’s bed separately and would
watch him carefully when ever he played with her son. 

One day when the Brahmin was away. Gowri decided to go to the river to fetch a pot
of water. She looked around and saw her son sound asleep in his cradle. The
mongoose was also asleep on the floor at the foot of the cradle. This should take
only a few moments I hope I can trust that mongoose not to harm my little son," she
said to herself and after a final look at them both she hurried down to the river. 

Suddenly, the mongoose woke up with a start. He had heard a very faint noise.
Looking up, the mongoose saw a large black snake crawling in through a hole in the
wall. 

“The snake will harm my brother. Mother and father are away. I will have to protect
my little brother," thought the mongoose, as the snake came slithering towards the
cradle. 

The brave little mongoose pounced on the huge black snake. After a long, ferocious
fight, the little mongoose finally managed to kill the snake. 

Just then, he heard the Brahmin’s wife returning. Joyfully, he ran out to meet his
mother and tried telling her through his little animal signs that he had protected his
little brother from a dreadful snake. 

But as soon as Gowri saw blood on the mongoose’s mouth and paws, she thought,
“This wretched animal has killed my little son." In a fit of anger the Brahmin’s wife
threw the pot full of water on the mongoose killing him instantly. 

Entering the house with a heavy heart, she was amazed to see her little son lying in
his cradle still deep in sleep. On the floor was a huge black snake with its ugly head
bitten off. 

“Oh what have I done," cried the Brahmin’s wife. “I killed that faithful little mongoose
who saved the life of my precious son." 
The Crow and The Necklace 

Once a crow and his wife built their nest atop a huge banyan tree beside a river.
They were very happy there. But when the female crow laid her eggs, they were in
for an unpleasant shock. A huge snake who lived in a hole at the bottom of the tree
came up and ate all their beautiful eggs. 

The crows were helpless with anger and pain. “You can’t let this wicked snake eat
our children anymore," cried the female crow bitterly. “You have to find a way to save
them from him,’ she said. 

“Let us go to our friend the jackal. He is very clever. He will surely be able to help us
with a solution," said the male crow. 

They both flew to the cave in the forest where their friend the jackal lived. 

The jackal saw them coming. “Hello my friends. Why do you look so sad and
worried? Can I help you in any way?"he asked. 

“Every time my wife lays eggs in our nest, a wicked snake living at the foot of the
tree eats them up," explained the crow. 

“We want to get rid of him and save our children. Please tell us what we can do." 

The jackal thought for some time. “I know what you should do," said the jackal and
he told the plan to the crows. 

It was a habit of the queen to come with her maids for a bath to the river. When they
did so, they removed all their clothes and jewels and placed them on the river bank.
On the following day the queen and her maids as usual entered the river. 

“You know what to do right?" asked the crow to his wife. “Yes," she answered. 

Both of them flew over the pile of clothes and jewels. The female crow swiftly picked
up a precious pearl necklace in her beak. At the same time the male crow began to
caw loudly to gain the attention of the queen and her maids. 

“Oh, those crows have taken my pearl necklace." cried the queen. “Guards!" she
cried. “Get that necklace back from those pesky crows." Her guards chased the
crows shouting loudly. 

The crows flew straight to the banyan tree with the guards close behind. Hearing all
the noise, the snake came out of his hole at the foot of the tree. Immediately, the
female crow dropped the necklace right where the snake was. 

“Look out! There is a huge snake near the necklace," alerted one guard. 
Before the snake could realise what was happening, the guards attacked him with
sharp spears and killed him. The guards then picked up the necklace and took it
back to their queen. 

The crows thanked their friend the jackal for helping them get rid of their enemy.
They lived happily with their children. 
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."