Written by Guy de Maupassant With the first day of spring, when the awakening earth puts on its garment of green, and the warm, fragrant air fans our faces and fills our lungs and appears even to penetrate to our hearts, we experience a vague, undefined longing for freedom, for happiness, a desire to run, to wander aimlessly, to breathe in the spring. The previous winter having been unusually severe, this spring feeling was like a form of intoxication in May, as if there were an overabundant supply of sap. One morning on waking I saw from my window the blue sky glowing in the sun above t ... read more

WAYS TO CUT DOWN WEIGHT Joy was fed up of his increasing weight. All the time he kept thinking of the ways to reduce his weight. One day he went to a shopkeeper and said, I have come to know about a book that tells how to reduce weight. Please give me a copy of that book. The shopkeeper said, Sir, the last copy of that book got sold just a few minutes back. But I have another book that tells how to gain weight. Joy said, I don't need that. I want to reduce weight, not increase it. The shopkeeper replied, So what? Just do the reverse of what is written in the book.

There lived a black sheep in a nearby village. Every spring, he shaved his black wool and sold it to the villagers. The villagers made sweaters and socks from his black wool. One day, the black sheep noticed that he had some more wool left. He thought, ‘It would be such a waste if nobody wants to buy the wool.’ That afternoon, an old man came over to his wooden shed to see him. He wanted one bag full of the black sheep’s wool. Then an old woman came over. She also wanted a bag full of wool. A short while later, a little boy arrived. He also wanted one bag full of wool. Therefore, t ... read more

IN THE ZOO One day Danny went with his father to a zoo. He was very excited to see different types of birds and animals. After a while, they came in front of the cage of a lion. Danny's father told him how ferocious and strong lions are. Danny was listening very attentively. Finally, he spoke up, Dad, if somehow the lion comes out of the cage and eats you up, then how will I get back home? At least tell me the route to reach home. Danny's father laughed at the innocent question of the son.

THE HUNTING PRAYERS One day, a priest while passing through a forest, saw a lion coming towards him. He started trembling out of fear. He realized that his end was near and knew that escape was impossible. Therefore, he fell on his knees and started praying for the last time. On opening his eyes, he saw the lion sitting on his knees and praying. The priest thought that the lion might have changed his mind. He said to the lion, I thought that you were about to kill me. I'll, replied the lion, I always pray to god before I hunt for my food. Saying this, he attacked the priest and tore him in ... read more