WHO IS BETTER ? One day, an argument occurred between a monkey and an elephant about who was better among them. They both went to a lion for settlement. The lion said, "Go across the river. There you will find a mango tree. Whosoever, gets a mango from there will be considered better?" Both went to the river. The river current was very strong. The elephant mocked the monkey, "Sit on my back. I will take you across the river." On reaching across the river, the monkey jumped on the tree and plucked a mango. Then he mocked at the elephant, "Now say who is better. Had I not been there, ... read more

The Lost Camel Once two merchants lost a camel. They met a traveller and asked him if he had seen it. The man replied he had not." But was your camel blind in the right eye?" Said he to them. "Yes, he was", replied the merchants. "Was it lame in one left foot?" The man asked again. "Cer­tainly it was", said the merchants. "Was its front tooth missing"? said he to them." Indeed I" said they. "Was it loaded with honey on one side and with wheat on the other?" "That is just how it was loaded," they answered. "Please take us to it." "But I have not seen your camel," said the man "and I ... read more

The Light on the Hills "I WANT to work at my picture," he said, and went into the field. The little sister went too, and stood by him watching while he painted. "The trees are not quite straight," she said, presently, "and oh, dear brother, the sky is not blue enough." "It- will all come right soon," he answered. "Will it be of any good?" "Oh yes," she said, wondering that he should even ask, "it will make people happy to look at it. They will feel as if they were in the field." "If I do it badly, will it make them unhappy?" "Not if you do your very best," she answered; "for ... read more

On the way to the Sun HE had journeyed a long way, and was very tired. It seemed like a dream when he stood up after a sleep in the field, and looked over the wall, and saw the garden, and the flowers, and the children playing all about. He looked at the long road behind him, at the dark wood and the barren hills; it was the world to which he belonged. He looked at the garden before him, at the big house, and the terrace, and the steps that led down to the smooth lawn it was the world which belonged to the children. "Poor boy," said the elder child, "I will get you something to eat." ... read more

Once upon a time, there was a farmer called Ah Niu. Ah Niu was not a rich farmer but he was very happy. He worked in the fields with his only cow from dawn until dusk. This provided Ah Niu with vegetables to eat and extra crops which he would sell to the local villagers on market day so that he might buy other foods. Ah Niu and his cow worked very hard, but they were contented with their simple life and they did not complain as they had everything they needed. But one year, everything changed. The rains did not come and the farm land began to dry up and turn to dust. Because there w ... read more