- Honesty is the Best Policy
- A Thirsty Crow
- The Hare and the Tortoise
- Belling the Cat/Who Is to Bell the Cat?
- Two friends and a Bear
- A Farmer and Three Sons/The Old Man and His Quarrelling Son
- Robert Bruce and the Spider/Robert Bruce, the King of Scotland
- Sheikh Saadi and His Dress/Sheikh Saadi and His Teaching/ The Value of Attire
- A Cobbler and a Banker
- The Lion and the Mouse
- A Greedy Dog
- The Fox Without a Tail/ Dirty Tricks Seldom Work
- Bayazid’s Devotion to His Mother/Bayezid and His Mother
- Mercy Never Goes Unrewarded
- Grapes Are Sour/The Hungry Fox/ The Fox and the Grapes
- A Greedy Farmer/The Golden Goose
- The Story of Greedy Dog
- Slow and Steady Wins the Race
- The Bone in Throat
- A Fox and a Goat
- Cunningness of the Monkey
- Pathetic Consequence of an Egotist King
- The Integrity of a Young Boy
- The story of Rina
- An Ant and a Dove
- The Golden Touch/King Midas and His Daughter
- The Pied Piper of Hamelin/The Town of Hamelin and the Rats
- A Cap Seller and a Monkey
- An Idle king
- The King and the Clever Astrologer
- What is Play to One is Death to Another
- A wood cutter and the Beautiful Fairy/An Honest Woodcutter
- A Poor Boatman and a Scholar
- The Wisdom of King Solomon
- An ant and a Grasshopper
- Nobility of a Landlord/ A Nobleman Helped a Farmer/The Farmer and the Nobleman
- The Story of a Rickshaw Puller/A Lucky Rickshaw Puller
- The Story of a Greedy Dog
- A Struggling Woman
- First Deserve then Desire
- An Over Ambitious Crow
- Real Peace Lies in Love for Human Being
- A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing
- The True Leader Proves Himself by His Qualities
- Sacrifice of a Real Mother
- The Brave Crow and the Greedy Snake
- King Lear and His Three Daughters
- The Clever Crow and the Snake
- The Honest Boy and the Lost Money Bag
- The Liar Shepherd
- The Ant and the Grasshopper
- Androcles and the Lion
1. Honesty is the Best Policy
Once upon a time there lived a poor man called Suruj Ali who was an honest, hard-working man and looked after a large mango orchard. The owner of the orchard, Hamidur Rahman, was a very rich man. One day, some of Hamidur Rahman’s friends came to visit him. It was during the summer season when the mangoes were ripe. So, Hamidur Rahman asked Suruj Ali to pick some of the ripe mangoes and give them to his friends. Suruj Ali went to the orchard and carefully picked some nice, large mangoes. Then he gave them to his master. When Hamidur Rahman and his friends started eating them, Hamidur Rahman said, ‘These mangoes don’t taste sweet. They’re sour! How can we eat them?’ So, he called Suruj Ali back and asked him to take the sour mangoes away and bring some sweet ones from his orchard. When Suruj Ali knew that the mangoes were also sour, he rushed into the mango orchard and picked some fresh ones. Then he brought them to his master and went away. After a few minutes, however, Suruj Ali heard his master shouting. So, he rushed back. ‘’You have been working here for three years but you still don’t know which mangoes are sweet and which ones are sour!” Hamidur Rahman exclaimed. Suruj Ali replied that he told me to look after his mangoes buy didn’t tell him to eat them. Hamidur Rahman admired his honesty and became proud of him.
2. A Thirsty Crow
One very hot summer day, a crow was feeling extremely thirsty. He flew from one place to another in search of water, but he could not find any. The blazing sun made him weak and tired. He continued searching, but not a single drop of water was to be found anywhere. Disappointed and sad, he finally sat on the branch of a tree to rest. From there, he noticed a pitcher under the tree. Hope filled his heart as he flew down to it.
When he looked inside the pitcher, he saw that there was a little water at the bottom. The crow tried to drink, but the water was too low for his beak to reach. He even tried to push the pitcher over, but it was too heavy to move. Feeling helpless, he was about to fly away in despair. Then suddenly, an idea struck his mind. He looked around and saw many small pebbles lying on the ground.
The clever crow decided to try something new. He picked up the pebbles one by one and dropped them carefully into the pitcher. With each pebble, the water level slowly began to rise. The crow continued his work patiently until the water reached the top. At last, he was able to dip his beak into the pitcher and drink to his heart’s content. His thirst was finally quenched. Feeling happy and refreshed, the clever crow flew away, thankful for his intelligence and patience. The story teaches that where there is a will, there is a way.
Moral: Where there is a will there is a way. / Necessity is the mother of invention.
3. The Hare and the Tortoise
Once there was a hare who was very proud of his speed. He was walking beside a forest. Suddenly he saw a tortoise. It was moving very slowly. He laughed at it saying, ‘Hurry up, you are so slow! Can’t you move a little faster?’ The tortoise felt angry and said, ‘Why don’t we run a race and see who wins?’ The hare laughed even more. ‘Why not, let’s do that.’ They agreed to start from under a tree and finish at a place near the forest. All the animals in the field put on their best clothes, groomed their fur, picked up a flag to wave and got ready to cheer the tortoise and the hare on. The crow was the referee. Then they started their race. In a few minutes the hare was out of sight. He thought himself that his competitor must be far behind and he was already half-way through. So, he decided to have a nap in the warm sunshine beside that tree. Seeing a shady bush nearby, he lay down under it. Soon he fell asleep. But the tortoise walked steadily on and on. In a short time, he passed by the sleeping hare. The hare slept longer than he thought he would. When he woke up at last, he looked around and saw in surprise that the tortoise was near the finishing line. He ran as fast as he could. But it was too late. The tortoise had reached the finishing line before he could do so. The tortoise looked back at the hare and said smilingly to see how the slow but steady wins the race.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
4. Belling the Cat/Who Is to Bell the Cat?
There was a grocery shop in a town. Plenty of mice lived in that grocery shop. Food was in plenty for them. They ate everything and spoiled all the bags. They also wasted the bread, biscuits and fruits of the shop. The grocer got really worried. After much thought, he bought a nice, big fat cat and let him stay there. The cat had a nice time hunting the mice and killing them. The mice could not move freely now. They were afraid that anytime the cat would eat them up. The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws. Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last one of them proposes placing a bell around its neck, so that they are warned of its approach. The plan is applauded by the others. All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question who will bell the Cat? It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.
Moral: Easier said than done. / Empty solutions are of no worth./Easy to advise but difficult to practise. / Easy to say but difficult to do.
5. Two friends and a Bear
A man was travelling together with his friend along a narrow road through a deep forest. They felt safe because they thought that they could fight against all odds in their way. They promised to help each other. As they were travelling along discussing various subjects, a bear suddenly confronted them in the middle of the road. Without hasitation one of the friends ran straight for a tree and climbed up to escape death. The other friend could not know how to climb up but at the same time he knew that a bear doesn’t like a dead body for its meal. At once, finding no other alternative way, he then fell to the ground on purpose, pretending to be dead. The wild beast immediately ran up to him, eager to seize her victim. The bear went up to the man and sniffed about his ears. It pawed at him a few times. Thinking the man was dead, the bear walked away to its den. The men gradually began to relax and started up their conversation again. After the bear left, his friend came down from the tree. “What did the bear say to you, friend, when he whispered in your ear?” asked his friend. “Oh,” answered his friend,” Those who do not help friends in times of trouble, one should not make friendship with such people.”
Moral: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
6. A Farmer and Three Sons/The Old Man and His Quarrelling Son
Long ago and far away, there was a rich and industrious farmer who had three sons. His sons always quarreled and fought with one another. Though their father often advised them to mend their ways, they did not pay any heed to him. He was not only very angry but also very depressed. One day, the old farmer was lying on his bed and he thought that he would not live much longer. He gathered his sons about him. He told a servant to bring in a bundle of seven sticks tied together. He handed the bundle to his oldest son and said to him to break the bundle then. The son tried with all his might, but he could not break the bundle. One by one, the other brothers tried. Not one of them was strong enough. By looking at them farmer again ordered them to open the bundle and then cut the sticks. This time they had no difficulty breaking the sticks. In a few moments all the sticks were broken. Finally, farmer said them that if you are united, nobody would hurt you but if you will always fight, everyone will hurt you. The old man looked at his son affectionately and said, “Remember, in unity there is strength.” These words worked magic. They promised to live in peace.
Moral: United we stand, divided we fall. / Unity is strength.
7. Robert Bruce and the Spider/Robert Bruce, the King of Scotland
Once there was a king named Robert Bruce who lived in Scotland. He was a great warrior and so he fought many battles and won them. But once he was badly defeated. He ran away from the battle field to save his life and took shelter in a cave where he hid himself. He was wrapped up in deep sorrow and out of disappointment. So, he gave up all his hope and struggle. One day when he was lying in the cave, he saw a spider which was trying to reach the roof of the cave. It made six attempts to reach its web but every time it slipped down. Now the king got interested and watched the spider carefully. He was astonished to see that spider did not lose heart but continued its efforts to reach up at the top. At the seventh attempt the spider was successful in its attempt of reaching its web. This incident boosted up the spirit of King Bruce. He gained new strength and fresh courage. He gathered his forces and fought another battle. This time he fought with new vigor and enthusiasm and was ultimately successful in making his country free.
Moral: Failure is the pillar of success.
8. Sheikh Saadi and His Dress/Sheikh Saadi and His Teaching/ The Value of Attire
Sheikh Saadi was a great Persian poet and saint. He wore very simple clothes and lived a simple life. One day, the king of Iran, Jalaluddin Saiyuti, invited him to his palace. The palace was far away, so Sheikh Saadi started his journey the day before. In the evening, he stopped at a rich man’s house and asked to stay the night. Since he was wearing plain clothes, the nobleman did not know who he was. The man and his servants treated him like an ordinary person. They gave him very simple food and did not show him much respect. The next morning, Sheikh Saadi left the house and reached the king’s palace. The king welcomed him with great respect and gave him some beautiful clothes. After staying there for a few days, Sheikh Saadi started his journey home. On the way, he stayed again at the same nobleman’s house. This time, he was wearing the fancy dress given by the king. Seeing him in fine clothes, the nobleman gave him a warm welcome and served him rich and delicious food. But while eating, Sheikh Saadi did something strange. He started putting the food into his pockets. The nobleman was surprised and asked why he was doing that. Sheikh Saadi replied that his clothes deserved the food, not him—because last time he had been treated badly just for wearing simple clothes. The nobleman understood his mistake and felt very sorry. He asked Sheikh Saadi to forgive him.
Moral: Dress does not make one great.
9. A Cobbler and a Banker
There lived a happy cobbler who passed his days working and singing from morning till night. A rich neighbour of his was a banker who one day asked him how much he earned a year. The cobbler replied that he earned enough to make both ends meet. But he was used to this sort of life and he was happy. The next day the rich banker again came to visit the cobbler. He came with ten thousand taka in a bag. He said to him, “My friend, I have brought ten thousand taka for you. Keep this money and remove your distress.” The cobbler was greatly surprised. At first, he refused to take the money. Then he took the money from the rich man and thanked him. Now a new thinking took hold of the cobbler. He said to himself, “Ten thousand taka is a lot of money.” He could not think where to keep the money. He did not find any safe place to keep the bag. He dug a hole in his hut and kept the money there. But he always thought that his money could be stolen any time. This thought kept him awake and his sleep fled away at night. He even could not devote himself to his work. As a result, his life became more miserable. Peace and happiness vanished from his life. The cobbler gradually realized that he had money, but no peace of mind.
Moral: Money can’t bring happiness.
10. The Lion and the Mouse
Once, as a lion lay sleeping in his den, a naughty little mouse ran up his tail, and danced and jumped on his head. Waking up, the lion grabbed the mouse and, holding him in his large claws, roared in anger. ‘How dare you wake me up! I shall kill you and eat you!’ The terrified mouse, shaking and trembling, begged the lion to let him go. ‘Please don’t eat me and I promise I will be your friend forever. Who knows but one day I could save your life?’ The lion looked at the tiny mouse and laughed. Then the lion opened his claws and let the mouse go free. A few days later the lion was caught in a hunter’s snare. Struggle as he might, he couldn’t break free and became even more entangled in the net of ropes. He let out a roar of anger that shook the forest. Every animal heard it, including the tiny mouse. ‘The mouse ran as fast as he could in the direction of the lion’s roar, and soon found the lion trapped in the hunter’s snare. And without further delay, the mouse began nibbling through the ropes with his sharp little teeth. Very soon the lion was free. ‘I did not believe that you could be of use to me, little mouse, but today you saved my life,’ said the lion humbly. ‘It was my turn to help you, Sire,’ answered the mouse.
Moral: Even the small things have their worth.
11. A Greedy Dog
Once there lived a very greedy dog. One afternoon, the dog was terribly hungry. He decided to go look for something to eat. He walked across the wooden bridge and started sniffing around for food. Suddenly, he spotted a bone lying at a distance. “Ah, I am in luck. This looks a delicious bone,” he said. Without wasting any time, the hungry dog picked up the bone. When he was just about to eat it, he thought that somebody might see here with this bone. So, holding the bone in his mouth, he ran towards his house. While crossing the wooden bridge, the dog looked down into the river. There he saw his own reflection. The foolish dog mistook it for another dog. He thought, “How nice it would be to snatch that piece of bone as well. Then, I will have two bones.” So, the greedy dog looked at his reflection and growled. The reflection growled back, too. This made the dog angry. So he started barking at the reflection to have the other piece of meat. But Alas! During barking, his piece of meat fell from his mouth in the stream below and the current swept it away. The he realized that what he had seen was nothing but his own reflections and not another dog. But it was too late. He had lost the piece of bone because of his greed. Now he had to go hungry.
Moral: Greed brings about disaster. / Do not be greedy. / Greed is a curse. / Grasp all, lose all.
- The Fox Without a Tail/ Dirty Tricks Seldom Work
There lived a clever fox in a jungle. Once, a Fox was caught in a trap but managed to escape after great effort. Unfortunately, in his struggle, he lost his beautiful, bushy tail. Ashamed of his appearance, he avoided other Foxes for a long time, knowing they would mock him and laugh behind his back. However, living alone was difficult, and soon he thought of a clever plan to solve his problem.
He decided to call a meeting of all the Foxes, claiming he had something very important to discuss. When all the Foxes gathered, the Fox Without a Tail stood up and made a long, serious speech. He spoke about how dangerous and troublesome their tails were. He said that some Foxes had been caught by hounds because their tails got stuck in hedges, while others had failed to run fast because their tails were too heavy. Moreover, he argued, men hunted Foxes mainly for their tails, which they took as trophies. Therefore, he advised that all Foxes should cut off their tails if they truly valued their lives and safety.
When he finished, an old, wise Fox stood up with a smile and said, “Master Fox, please turn around for a moment, and you shall have your answer.” The tailless Fox turned around, and instantly, all the other Foxes burst into laughter and jeers. They clearly understood that he was only trying to make them feel miserable like himself. Realizing his plan had failed, the poor Fox quietly slipped away, feeling more ashamed than ever.
Moral: Empty words cannot become facts.
- Bayazid’s Devotion to His Mother/Bayezid and His Mother
Bayazid was a small boy whose mother was ill. One day he was studying by the side of his ailing mother. All on a sudden his mother woke up, raised her head and told her son to give a glass of water. Hearing this, Bayazid went to fetch a glass of water but unfortunately he found no water in the pitcher. Then he went out with a jar in that dark night to fetch water. He got frightened but he did not give up his effort of fetching water. At last, he reached a distant fountain to bring water. He filled the pitcher with water and began to walk fast towards his house. At about 2.a.m. he reached at home. But he saw that his mother was in deep sleep. He refrained from disturbing his mother and stood still beside his mother’s bed with the glass of water. She was surprised to find Bayazid still standing by her bed. She said, “O my son, why did you not leave the glass on the table and go to sleep? “Dear mother, I thought you would not find the water on waking. So, I did not leave it on the table and go to sleep. Please take the glass and drink, “answered bayazid with a smile. His mother drank water and prayed to Allah to bless her son with the highest spiritual honour. Later on, Bayazid became one of the famous devotees of Islam.
Moral: A prayer of a mother for a devoted child is always accepted by Allah.
- Mercy Never Goes Unrewarded
It was a hot summer day. Sun was shining bright up in the sky. A lion was sitting under the shade of a big tree and in some time got asleep. Nearby that tree, there was a hole, in which there lived a mouse. When the lion was sleeping, the mouse came out of its hole and saw him asleep. Unaware of the lion’s strength, it got tickled by an idea. It thought of waking up the lion by running over his body just for fun. Unfortunately, the lion seized it in his strong paw. The mouse pleaded for its life. Being generous by nature, the lion set it free. The mouse promised to help the lion if it ever got the chance. The lion laughed aloud at this. After all, how could a tiny mouse help the king of the jungle? A few days later, the mouse was passing through the jungle when he saw the same lion trapped in a hunter’s net and it was tied into a net under a tree. The lion was groaning and shouting for help. But nobody was there. The mouse came to him. The mouse said, “Don’t worry sir. I will help you”. It cut the ropes of the net with his sharp teeth one after another and soon the lion was free. Then the lion realized that a little animal can also help others. He was very grateful to the mouse and thanked the little mouse for its timely help.
Moral: Never under-estimate anyone. /Everything has its own value. /A friend in need is a friend in deed.
- Grapes Are Sour/The Hungry Fox/ The Fox and the Grapes
Once upon a time, a hungry fox was roaming around here and there searching for food. Because of hunger, he was feeling weak and tired. Fortunately, he came to a garden where he saw a grape-vine laden with bunches of grapes they looked quite ripe and juicy. The fox looked at the grapes with longing eyes and licked his chops. But the bunches were too high for him and he was feeling weak. So, he sat down for a while to take some rest. On feeling refreshed, he jumped as high as he could, to get at the grapes. But he failed to reach them. Then he again rested for some time and made another bold attempt, but was unlucky for the second time. He tried again and again, but it was all in vain. Forced to give up trying anymore, he just walked away and instead of accepting his failure, he remarked “The grapes appeared to be ripe and juicy, but now I see them to be quite sour and are not at all worth eating.” This story, thus, proves that, people generally hate what they can’t get.
Moral: It’s easy to despise what you cannot have. /People pretend to dislike what they cannot get.
- A Greedy Farmer/The Golden Goose
Once there was a poor farmer who worked hard every day to support his family. One day, he went to the market and bought a goose. When he brought it home, his wife wanted to kill it for food, but later she agreed to keep and take care of it. The next morning, the farmer found something shiny near his hut. To his surprise, it was a golden egg. He was overjoyed and showed it to his wife.
The following day, the same thing happened again. Every morning, the goose laid a golden egg. The farmer and his wife became rich by selling those eggs in the market. With time, they built a big, beautiful house and lived a comfortable life. But soon, greed filled the farmer’s heart. He wanted to get all the golden eggs at once and become a millionaire quickly. He thought of killing the goose and taking all the eggs from its belly.
His wife warned him not to be greedy and to be satisfied with what they already had. But the farmer ignored her advice. He killed the goose with a sharp knife, hoping to find many golden eggs inside. To his horror, there were none. The goose was dead, and he had lost his only source of wealth. The farmer felt deep regret and realized his mistake. His greed had ruined everything he had earned. From that day on, he learned that greed always leads to misfortune and loss.
Moral: Grasp all, lose all.
- The Story of Greedy Dog
Once there lived a dog. He was very greedy. There were many times that he had to pay for his greed. Each time the dog promised himself that he had learnt a good lesson and he would never be greedy again. But he soon forgot his promises and was as greedy as ever. One afternoon, the dog was terribly hungry and went in search of food. He stole a piece of meat from a farmer’s kitchen. Taking it in his mouth, he started to run away from the place. The dog happily carried the bone back home. He held the bone tightly in his mouth and scowled at anyone who tried to take it away. On his way home, he had to cross a bridge. While crossing the bridge, the dog saw his reflection in the water below. The foolish dog thought there was another dog in the water, holding another juicy bone. The greedy dog wanted to have that bone too. He growled and barked at his own reflection in the water. As he opened his mouth, the bone in his mouth fell into the river. It was only when the water splashed that the greedy dog realized that what he had seen was nothing but his own reflections and not another dog. But it was too late. He had lost the piece of bone because of his greed. The dog lost his bone and had to go home, hungry.
- Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Once there lived a hare and a tortoise in a jungle. The hare was very proud of his speed and therefore used to ridicule the tortoise for his slow speed. He uttered that it was a little creature and he crawl very slowly. The tortoise listened to him but said nothing. The hare grew more impudent. He began to call him names. This was too much for the tortoise to bear. He became angry and challenged him to a race. The hare at first laughed but then accepted the challenge. A tree at a distance was fixed as the victory post. At a whistle from the fox the race started. As expected, the hare left the tortoise far behind. Soon the hare felt bored. So, he stopped and began eating blades of green grass. Having had his fill, he felt sleepy. Seeing a shady bush nearby, he lay down under it. As the tortoise was quite away behind, he had no worry from his side. As for the tortoise, he plugged along at his slow place and overtook the sleeping hare. Passing by him silently, he got to the winning point. When the hare awoke, it was fairly late. He feared that the tortoise might have passed by him. So, he ran at break-neck speed but only to find his rival already there as a winner.
- The Bone in Throat
Once upon a time, there was a lazy wolf living in a jungle. Near his house was a pond. Many animals came to the pond to drink water. The wolf was always in search of food. One day, he was sitting near the pond hoping to get something to eat. When suddenly he spotted a dead bull. He began to eat the bull. In his haste, a piece of bone got stuck in his throat. He tried to bring it out of his mouth. He tried to cough it out but in vain. Next, he tried to swallow it down but he failed. Suddenly he remembered that a crane lived on the nearby riverbank. The wolf went to the crane and pleaded that he had got a bone stuck in my throat. He will give him a present, if he could pull it out of his throat with his long beak. The crane took pity on the wolf. He asked the wolf to look up with his mouth open. The crane then put its head into the wolf’s mouth and pulled out the bone. Then the fox got relief. Now the crane asked where his present was. “What present?” the wolf replied, pretending not aware of its promise. He added that it was not a present that he put his head into his mouth and got out alive? “He could have easily crushed his head while his beak was inside his mouth,” said the ungrateful wolf and went away. The crane felt helpless and decided not to help any ungrateful creature in the future.
- A Fox and a Goat
It was a hot summer day. A fox was very thirsty. Looking around for a place to quench his thirst, he came across a well that had very little water in it. He was so thirsty that he got down into it and quenched his thirst. Having had his fill, the fox wondered how he would get out of the well. At that time a very thirsty goat passed by the well and saw the fox there. She asked the fox what he was doing there. The cunning fox replied that he had himself jumped into the well and found it very cool and pleasant. He also asked if he wanted to drink sweet and cold water. He further told to come down and experience the pleasure there. Without thinking of the result, she jumped into the well. The fox at once jumped on her back, and with another jump he was out of well. The fox smiled at the poor goat and went his way leaving behind the goat to repent. The goat felt so sorry but nothing to do for escaping.
Moral: Look before you leap.
- Cunningness of the Monkey
Once there lived two rats in a house. One day they stole a piece of bread form their neighbouring house. But the problem arose how to divide it because each of the cats wanted the larger portion of it. When they failed to reach any conclusion, they went to a monkey who is considered to be the wisest of all the animals. They requested the monkey to divide the bread equally. The monkey brought a pair of scales but couldn’t resist his temptation. He determined to eat the bread and made a plan in his mind. He torn out the bread into two pieces and put them on the scales. He told the rats that one piece was clearly heavier than the other. So, he bit off a part of the bigger piece. As a result, the piece became heavier. Then the monkey took a part form the heavier piece and put it on the scales. Actually, he was doing it intentionally. The monkey continued doing the same thing again and again until there remained only one piece of bread. Now, the rats being very much annoyed, told the monkey to return that piece to them. They said that they themselves would divide the bread equally. But the monkey said that he toiled much to divide the bread equally. So, he wanted it as his fee. Saying so, the monkey ate up that piece also. The rat left the place in a very sad mood but the incident made them wise also.
Moral: When you quarrel, others take advantage of your foolishness.
Moral: When you quarrel, others take advantage of your foolishness.
- Pathetic Consequence of an Egotist King
King Lear was very old and tired. He decided to abandon his power and divide his kingdom among his three daughters named Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. He portioned the land according to how much his daughters loved him. The daughter who loved him most got the most land. The three daughters were summoned before the king. Goneril really despised him, but spoke of her everlasting love. Then Regan claimed that she loved Lear even more than Goneril. Cordelia, who loves her father very much, said she loved him no more or less than she should. The old king was so angry that he banished her from the kingdom. The King of France admired Cordelia’s honesty and married her. He and his new wife moved to France. Lear had no castle now, so he took one hundred knights. Goneril treated him badly and Lear discovered how evil she really is. He then went to see Regan and her husband Cornwall. Regan did not come out and see her father either. His children too had cheated him. His younger son, Edmund and favorite son, Edgar, had talked of murdering his father. News reached Cordelia who had raised an army at Dover. The battle started. Lear was so tired that he slept through the whole battle. He awoke to find that Cordelia’s army had been defeated and she was sentenced to death. A servant came and explained that Goneril had poisoned Regan. She had been hanged. At last the king stumbled into a faint, and took his last breath. Thus, the egotist king faced a terrible death due to his egotism.
- The Integrity of a Young Boy
Once upon a time there was a lad named Harun who has a strong sense of morality. One day he was returning from school to home. On the way he suddenly noticed that there was something lying on a footpath in a major market at Mirpur. Approaching its nearer, he could behold a bag. Seeing none around him, he at once picked the bag and brought it at home. He searched the ins and out of bags and got some valuable things like 500 taka along with two credit cards, an address book, an admit card. Promptly, he thought himself that this small amount of money could help him but other things were completely valueless to him. On the other hand, the owner of the bag had lost the things that could be very important to him. He then shared the idea with his mother. She ordered him to make a phone call to the owner as early as possible. He phoned and gave address. After an hour later, the owner of the bag came and he handed down the bag. The man became surprised and wordless. He showed his gratitude towards his mother for giving birth a child like him. The man thanked him so much and proposed him to wish what he wanted. He informed him to pray for him. He became happy and presented me a nice pen. When papa came, mother described it to him who then assured Harun to buy a computer.
- The story of Rina
Rina worked in a large garment factory with more than five hundred workers. One day, while busy with her work, she heard a frightening rumor that a fire had broken out due to a short circuit. The news spread rapidly among the workers, and panic ensued. However, no one stopped to verify whether there was actually a fire.
In their rush to escape, many workers pushed and stumbled over each other. Some fell, and at least fourteen tragically lost their lives. Others, in desperation, jumped out of the windows. Two of them died, while the rest suffered serious injuries. Rina, too, was hurt in the chaos.
Later, it was revealed that the fire was just a rumor. In reality, an electric transmitter near the building had exploded, causing a loud noise and confusion. The misunderstanding led to a terrible tragedy, leaving everyone shaken and saddened by the needless loss of life.
The incident highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and the need for clear communication during crises. If the workers had been properly trained to handle such situations, the panic and loss of life could have been avoided. The tragedy served as a lesson for the factory to ensure better safety measures and proper evacuation protocols in the future.
- An Ant and a Dove
Once an ant was very thirsty. He went to a pond to drink water. When he began to drink water, a wave swept him away. He was about to drown. There was a tree on the bank of the pond. A dove was sitting on a branch of the tree. He noticed the ant was about to drown. The dove felt pity for the ant. He wanted to save the ant. So, he dropped a leaf of the ant. The ant got on the leaf and saved his life. Another day the ant was seeking food under that tree. Then he noticed that a hunter had aimed at the dove. The dove did not know it. The ant thought, “I must save the life of the dove.” So, he bit on the right leg of the hunter. At this the hunter’s hands trembled and the bullet missed its aim. Then the dove flew away and saved his life.
Moral: If you do a good deed, you will get a good return.
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The Golden Touch/King Midas and His Daughter
Once there lived a king named Midas who was very rich, but his greed for wealth had no end. He always wanted to have more treasure and gold. One day, he called his court magician and asked him to find a magic spell that could give him endless riches. The magician agreed to grant his wish and told the king that whatever he touched would turn into gold. King Midas was overjoyed and thought himself the luckiest man in the world.
When the magic took effect, everything the king touched turned into gold. He touched trees, flowers, chairs, tables, and even the grass—all turned into bright, shining gold. The king was delighted and believed he had become the richest man in the world. However, in the evening, when he sat down to eat, he got a terrible shock. As soon as he touched his food, it too turned into gold, and he could not eat anything. He went to bed hungry but was still not truly sad because his greed blinded him.
The next morning, his little daughter ran to hug him with love. But to his horror, as soon as she touched him, she turned into a golden statue. The king was heartbroken. Realizing his foolishness, he rushed to the magician and begged him to take away the golden touch. He said he no longer wanted gold—he only wanted his daughter back. The magician took pity on him and reversed the spell. King Midas learned his lesson and was never greedy again.
Moral: Greed sure to bring on grief. / Greed begets sin and sin to die.
- The Pied Piper of Hamelin/The Town of Hamelin and the Rats
Once upon a time there was a town called Hamelin. There were rats everywhere in Hamelin – rats in the corn silos, rats in the shops, rats in the streets, and rats in the houses. The rats bred and soon there were so many. The people of Hamelin came to the Town Hall and demanded to know what the Mayor was doing about the rats. When the Mayor was surrounded by his Councilors, he announced a magnificent reward of one thousand gold guilders to any person who could rid the town of the rats. The very next day a stranger appeared in Hamelin wearing a hat. He told the Mayor and his councilors that, for a thousand gold guilders, he could rid Hamelin of the rats that infested it. The Mayor enthusiastically agreed and the Pied Piper stepped outside. Now the Pied Piper started to play a dancing tune and the rats followed along behind. At the river side the Piper stopped, the rats continued dancing and al last all were sunk in the river. The people of Hamelin were celebrating the victory against the rats. The Pied Piper asked for his one thousand gold guilders but the Mayor refused to pay such amount of money. The piper left the place being humiliated. The Piper now came to the street and started playing his pipe again. All the children came out of their house dancing and were following him. The parents were relieved when they saw the Pied Piper turn away from the river towards the mountain. When a small door appeared in the side of the mountain, the Pied Piper and all of the children disappeared inside the mountain and the small door shut so tightly that no one could tell exactly where it had been.
Moral: Breaking a promise brings a great destroy.
- A Cap Seller and a Monkey
It was a hot summer day. A man was passing through a village. He sold caps to the villagers. He walked for miles and felt very tired. He sat under a big tree to take rest. He put his basket of caps beside him. He then fell asleep. There were monkeys in the tree. The monkeys saw the caps in the basket. They became curious. The monkeys came down from the tree and took away the caps. After some time, the man woke up. He found that there was no cap in the basket. He was surprised. He looked for the caps. Then he heard some sound above his head. He looked up. He could not believe his eyes! The monkeys were wearing the caps. The cap-seller became very worried. He did not know what to do. Suddenly he remembered that monkeys like to imitate. So, he took off his own cap and threw it on the ground. The monkeys saw it. They also threw their caps on the ground. The cap-seller did not miss the chance. He at once collected the caps from the ground. Then he quickly left the place.
- An Idle king
Once there was an old king who was averse to physical labour. As a result, he grew very fat and could not move from one place to another easily. He called on a very clever and wise doctor. So, he could easily understand that the idleness of the king is the root cause of his obesity. But the only way to reduce the obesity was to advise the king to do physical labour. The doctor was afraid thinking that if he advised him to do physical labour and if the king didn’t do so, he would grow bulkier. Finally, he hit upon a plan. He told the king that his (k) physical condition was not good at all and that’s why he needed immediate treatment. Hearing this, the king became gloomy. Then the doctor gave him a club and told him to brandish it in the morning and in the evening for at least one hour each day. At the very beginning day, when the king started brandishing the club, he became very tired. Sweat came out of his body and he found the task very difficult. The king continued doing the job for one month. After a month, he found himself fresh and healthy. His bulky body became normal and he looked very smart. After a month, the doctor called on the king in his palace. The doctor told the king that physical labour is the best medicine to keep the body fit. The king understood the doctor’s technique. He praised the doctor and thanked him for prescribing such a good medicine for him. He also rewarded him.
- The King and the Clever Astrologer
Once there was a king who was very curious about his future. He loved to hear predictions from astrologers. He often invited the best astrologers of his kingdom to tell him what was going to happen. One day, a famous astrologer was passing through the capital on his way to Benares. The king called him and asked him to tell about his future. The astrologer looked at the stars and told the king something unpleasant. Hearing this, the king became very angry. He told the astrologer that people like him should not live and disturb the peace of the world. He ordered his guards to prepare for the astrologer’s death. But before the astrologer was taken away, the king had another thought. He asked the astrologer how long he would live. The astrologer was very smart. He knew that if he said he would live longer than the king, the king would prove him wrong by killing him. So, he thought for a moment and then gave a clever answer. He said that the stars showed he would die only one week before the king. He added that he would wait to meet the king in the place the king was sending him. Hearing this, the king became very afraid. His face turned pale, and he quickly shouted to his guards to drive the astrologer away and never let him return. The smart astrologer saved his life with his clever answer.
Moral: A ready wit can save one from danger.
- What is Play to One is Death to Another
Once upon a time there was a pond full of frogs. As it was during the rainy season, it was filled to brim with water. Many dogs took their shelter in the pond. Some of them often put their heads out of the water and croaked loudly. One day some wicked boys were playing by the side of the pond. When they heard the frogs croaking, they began to throw stones into the pond for fun. Some of the frogs became seriously wounded. But the frogs had no ability to stop them. They requested them again and again but it was of no response. So, all the frogs at once went down into water. But the boys did not leave the place. They remained standing there with stones in their hands. They went on pelting the frogs with stones when they raised their heads above the water. The boys enjoyed much for doing this. But the frogs fell in a danger. Finding no other alternative way an aged old frog raised his head out of the water and said, “Dear boys, don’t throw stones at us, please.” “We’re playing,” said the boys, laughing. “I understand that,” said the old frog. “But the stones you throw hit and hurt us. What’s play to you is death to us.” The boys did not pay any heed and ran away from there. At night the most intelligent of the boys dreamt a bad dream that he was tied with a small net under a big tree. Some frogs started throwing stones to him. He repeatedly requested the frogs to do so but the frogs continued their activity. He was badly wounded due the cruelty of the frogs. He was about to die. He could understand how painful it was! Meanwhile he woke up from sleep and called his friends. He narrated what happened to him in his dream. The boys realized their fault and promised not to do it again.
- A woodcutter and the Beautiful Fairy/An Honest Woodcutter
Once upon a time, there lived a poor woodcutter in a small village. Every day, he went to the nearby forest to cut wood and sold it in the market to earn his living. One day, while cutting a tree beside a river, his axe suddenly slipped from his hand and fell into the deep water. The woodcutter was very sad because he could not swim and had no money to buy another axe. He sat on the riverbank and began to weep bitterly, blaming his bad luck for the loss.
Suddenly, a wonderful thing happened. Mercury, the god of water, appeared before him. In a kind and gentle voice, she asked the woodcutter why he was crying. The woodcutter told her everything about how his only axe had fallen into the river. Hearing his story, the fairy felt pity for him. She dived into the river and came up with a shining golden axe. She showed it to the woodcutter and asked if it was his. The honest woodcutter replied that it was not his axe. Then she again went into the water and returned with a silver axe. The woodcutter again said that it was not his. Finally, she brought an iron axe. Seeing it, the woodcutter joyfully said that it was his lost axe.
The fairy was very pleased with the woodcutter’s honesty. As a reward, she gave him not only his iron axe but also the gold and silver ones. The woodcutter thanked her heartily, returned home happily, and from that day, he lived a comfortable and prosperous life.
Moral: Honesty is the best policy./Honesty is rewarded, dishonesty is punished.
- A Poor Boatman and a Scholar
Once upon a time there lived a poor and illiterate boatman in a village. He used to row in boat from morning till evening only to make his both ends meet. It was a month of Baishakh. A scholar got into his boat one day. The scholar asked the boatman if he read history. The boatman replied in the negative. The scholar told him that without any knowledge of history one-fourth of his life was spoilt. He looked at the beautiful scenery and asked the boatman again whether he had read geography. As usual, the reply of the boatman was in the negative. This time the scholar said that one half of the boatman’s life was spoilt. The boatman was sad and thought of the uselessness of his life. Then they were silent for some time. It was afternoon. The scholar broke the silence and asked the boatman if he knew anything about science. “No, nothing do I know of science,” was the answer of the boatman. The scholar told him that his life was of no use. Three-fourths of his life were spoilt. This time the boatman remained silent and went on rowing boat in a sad mood. All on a sudden, the sky became overcast with dark clouds. A ghastly wind began to blow. There was darkness all around. There were also heavy showers with lightening. The scholar was very much frightened. Eventually, the storm became violent. But the boatman was very quiet because he was used to this weather. The boatman said to him. “Sir, do you know how to swim?” The scholar replied in the negative in a pitiful voice. The boatman said, “The boat is going to sink. Now I see, the whole of your life is spoilt. Your bookish knowledge is of no use at this moment.”
- The Wisdom of King Solomon
King Solomon, the son of king David, became renowned throughout the Middle East for his wealth and wisdom. The Queen of Sheba was herself fabulously wealthy, yet curious and skeptical of Solomon’s reputation. The Queen of Sheba heard of him and his wisdom. She wanted to test his wisdom. With great ceremony the Queen of Sheba accompanied by many attendants and camels, brings a large quantity of spices, gold and precious stones to see for herself. The Queen went to Solomon’s court. She also brought two garlands of flowers with her. One was natural and the other was artificial. She placed them before the king and asked him to take the real one. The courtiers were clueless about the right answer. The king thought for a while. It was very difficult to identify the real one as they were the same flowers with same color. The Queen felt joy at defeating the King. At that time, he noticed some bees flying outside the windows. King Solomon told his men to open the window. As soon as they opened the window, the bees came in and sat on the real garland. Then the king took that garland. The Queen of Seba became very surprised and charmed of his wisdom. She blessed the king from her heart and said, “You are really ‘Solomon the wise’’.
- An ant and a Grasshopper
Once there lived an ant and a grasshopper in a grassy meadow. All day long he would work, without stop or rest, scurrying back and forth from the field, collecting the grains of wheat and storing them carefully in her larder. The ant would ignore him, and head bent, would just hurry to the field a little faster. This would make the grasshopper laugh even louder. ‘What a silly little ant you are!’ he would call after him. ‘Come, come and dance with me! Forget about work! Enjoy the summer! Live a little!’ And the grasshopper would hop away across the meadow, singing and dancing merrily. Summer faded into autumn, and autumn turned into winter. The sun was hardly seen, and the days were short and grey, the nights long and dark. It became freezing cold, and snow began to fall. The grasshopper didn’t feel like singing any more. He was cold and hungry. He had nowhere to shelter from the snow, and nothing to eat. The meadow and the farmer’s field were covered in snow, and there was no food to be had. ‘Oh! what shall I do? Where shall I go?’ wailed the grasshopper. Suddenly he remembered the ant. ‘Ah – I shall go to the ant and ask him for food and shelter!’ declared the grasshopper, perking up. So off he went to the ant’s house and knocked at her door. ‘Hello ant!’ he cried cheerfully. ‘Here I am, to sing for you, as I warm myself by your fire, while you get me some food from that larder of yours!’ The ant looked at the grasshopper and said, ‘All summer long I worked hard while you made fun of me, and sang and danced. You should have thought of winter then! Find somewhere else to sing, grasshopper! There is no warmth or food for you here!’ And the ant shut the door in the grasshopper’s face.
Moral: Work hard and don’t be lazy.
- Nobility of a Landlord/ A Nobleman Helped a Farmer/The Farmer and the Nobleman
One day a farmer was taking some sacks of wheat to a mill on horseback. The mill was a few kilometers away. On the way, the horse stumbled and one of the sacks fell to the ground. It was too heavy for the farmer to lift. The farmer fell into trouble as there was nobody around to help him. He was at a loss. Suddenly he saw a horseman coming towards him on horseback. When the horseman came near the farmer, he recognized him and felt disappointed because the man was a powerful landlord. So, he could no hope that the man on horseback would help him. Though the landlord was very helpful, the farmer was in a fix to ask him for help. But surprisingly the landlord stopped in front of the farmer and got off the horse. “I see you’ve had a mishap, friend,” said the landlord. “Fortunately, I have come along just now, for it is difficult to find help in a place like this.” Soon he realized that he was wrong in making a negative attitude towards him. Then he held one end of the sack and asked the farmer to hold the other end. Together they lifted the sack and placed it once again on the horse’s back. The farmer asked, “How can I express my gratitude?” The gentleman replied, “By doing the same act to any other person in need or in problem and that will be thanking me.”
Moral: Everyone should do something in the danger of others.
- The Story of a Rickshaw Puller/A Lucky Rickshaw Puller
Kabir is a poor rickshaw puller in Chittagong. He drives his rickshaw to different areas of the city. One day he saw some men selling lottery tickets enticing the passers-by. Kabir felt tempted and bought a ticket. He was eagerly waiting for the date of declaring the result of the draw. Then the much awaited day came and the purchased a daily newspaper. He began to search for the news of the draw. Suddenly the news came into his sight and with extreme tension he searched for his number in the lottery winning corner of a page. He found that his ticket number won the first prize. Then his joys knew no bounds. His eyes became sodden with the tears of joy. Then he rushed home without delay. He let his wife and children know about the winning of the lottery. Within seven days he got the money. Then he bought several rickshaws with a portion of the money. He opened a back account and kept the rest of the money with the bank. His rickshaw business went on well. Now he is a successful businessman. From a rickshaw puller Kabir has become the owner of many rickshaws.
- The Story of a Greedy Dog
Once a dog stole a piece of meat from a stall. He ran away with it and at last went to a stream. There was a plank across the stream. The dog ran over the plank. When he was running, he looked down into the water and saw his own image. But he thought it was another dog with another piece of meat. He failed to understand that it was his own reflection. The dog was greedy. The greedy dog wanted to get that piece of meat too. So, he started barking at the reflection to have the other piece of meat. But Alas! During barking, his piece of meat fell from his mouth in the stream below and the current swept it away. Thus, the greedy dog lost his meat and became disappointed. It’s a learning for all of us that we should not expose over greediness.
- A Struggling Woman
Halima was the daughter of a poor farmer. Her father could not educate her on account of his poverty. At the age of fifteen, her parents gave her in marriage with a very poor boy. The boy was lazy and did not do any work. Though Halima entered her husband’s house with the usual dreams and hopes of a young girl, she began to witness there more want, more problems. However, she did not lose heart. She took a loan from a Non-Government Organization working for changing the luck of rural women. She first started rich husking business with the money. She also started a small shop for her husband. Her business and husband’s shop began to give them some small profits. She used half of the profit to buy their food and with the rest half she used to repay the loan by installments. Within one year she could repay all the loan money. Then she took a larger loan and started a big business. Now she is a successful business woman and has employed many rural women in her business. Several other women of the surrounding villages are now following her path.
- First Deserve then Desire
After completing graduation Abdul Haque came to Dhaka with the hoping of getting a job. He hoped that his relatives would help him get a job. He applied for many jobs and faced many interviews but could not manage a job for long. In each place his skills in English and Computer were tested. He was not well conversant in English and not fully computer literate. As he came from a rural area, he could not understand the present reality of the job market. Then he was determined to acquire skills in computer and English language. He started doing some part time jobs and learning computer. Side by side he started practicing spoken and written English. After working hard for several months, he achieved satisfactory skills in the two subjects and with it he gained confidence. Confidence is a great thing to shine in life. Then he tried to manage a good job. He was selected in several places. Finally, he chose one that seemed more suitable for him. Now he works in a multi-national company enjoying a handsome salary.
- An Over Ambitious Crow
There was an ambitious crow. He thought of his ugly colour and became very sad. So, he thought of becoming beautiful like the peacock. But he could not find out any way to become beautiful. Once he got a chance. He found some feathers of a peacock in a jungle. So, he did not miss the opportunity. He took the feathers one by one and stuck them in among his own feathers. Then he looked at him and became overcast with joy thinking him to be as beautiful as a cuckoo. He thought that he should no longer live with the crows. So, he made up his mind to live with peacocks. But peacocks understood easily that actually he was a crow in the appearance of a peacock. All peacocks gathered together and attacked him. They pulled out all the false feathers and drove him away. Finding no other way, he returned to the crows. But the crows did not accept him. They also drove him away. The crow realized his fault. So, he apologized to all the crows and promised that he would never be so ambitious.
- Real Peace Lies in Love for Human Being
Riaz is a school going boy. One day while coming home from school, he found an old woman lying on the road. He went near her and fund that she was senseless. It was a very hot day. He thought that the woman got fainted due to scorching heat while trying to cross the road. Riaz then took her to a nearby house. With the help of the members of the house, he poured cold water on her head for a few minutes. The woman regained her sense at this. Then he made her drink saline water. He came to learn from her that she was very poor and she was going to her daughter’s house. Riaz took her to her daughter’s house. This made the daughter very astonished and the old woman prayed to God for his long and successful life. When Riaz got home his mother asked him the reason of his being late. He explained everything to his mother who appreciated his work and prayed for him. This incident made both Riaz and his parents very much happy. It was a real happiness.
- A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing
A man lived in a certain village who was very much interested to learn and use English. So, he went to a teacher who began to teach him English. He taught him several months but the man picked only words such as ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘very good’. He did not know the proper use and meaning of these words. He thought he could use them in any place and any time. It would make him smart. After coming back to his village, he started using these three words with anyone, anywhere on any occasions. A theft occurred in his village and the police came to investigate the matter. When the police officer asked him whether he knew the matter. He said, ‘Yes’. Then he wanted to take the man to the police station and he asked him if he had any objection to it. He just replied, ‘no’. After asking him several more questions they told that they would arrest him. He again replied using his last words ‘very good’. Finally, he was sent to prison only because of his little learning.
- The True Leader Proves Himself by His Qualities
Once all the animals of a forest gathered in the centre of the forest. Their purpose was to elect their king. A monkey was asked to dance before the assembled beasts. He danced to please them. Then they elected him their king. A fox did not vote for the monkey and was much disgusted with the animals for electing so unworthy a ruler. He was actually envious of the honour given to the monkey. He was planning to teach a good lesson to the monkey. Then he remembered a trap with a bit of meat in it. He told the monkey that he had found a rich treasure, which he had not touched because it belonged by right to his majesty, the monkey. Accordingly, he led the monkey to the trap saying it was a treasure trove. The monkey went carelessly into the trap and was caught. The fox stood off and laughed to see it. The monkey accused the fox of purposely leading him into the trap, but the fox only chided the monkey for pretending to be king with no qualifications. The fox told him that he could not take care of himself but pretended to be their king.
- Sacrifice of a Real Mother
Once two women quarreled over a child. One of the two said that the child was hers while the other claimed that she was the mother of the child. Finally, they went to the king David. The king listened to them and pondered over the duel claim to the child. In the meantime, the prince came to learn about the matter. The prince was Solomon. He came forward to help the king. But the king could not rely on him because he was still a boy. Anyway, Prince Solomon listened to the quarreling women. Then he said, ‘As both of you are claiming the boy, I shall divide the boy into two parts to give you.’ Saying this, he aimed his sword at the boy. Just at that time one of the women cried out. She gave up her claim and begged for the boy’s life. But the other woman did not say anything. The prince could realize very well who the real mother was. He handed over the child to the woman who cried out and ordered the guards to arrest the other woman.
46. The Brave Crow and the Greedy Snake
Once there lived a crow in a large tree. Near the tree, in a small hole in the ground, lived a cunning snake. The snake was very greedy and often thought about eating the crow. One day, when the crow was away searching for food, the snake came out of its hole and looked up at the nest. It saw the crow’s eggs carefully laid inside the nest. The snake thought, “If I can eat these eggs, I will have a delicious meal.”
The snake climbed up the tree slowly and reached near the nest. Just as it was about to snatch the eggs, the crow returned. Seeing the snake, the crow became very angry. It began to caw loudly and flapped its wings fiercely to scare the snake. The snake tried to bite the crow, but the crow was too quick. The crow swooped down and pecked at the snake with all its strength. The snake hissed and tried to escape, but the crow’s sharp beak and quick movements forced it to retreat.
The crow realized that its nest and eggs were safe. It called other birds for help, and together they drove the snake far away from the tree. From that day on, the snake never dared to come near the crow’s tree again. The crow continued to live happily and protected its eggs with great care.
Moral: Courage and vigilance help protect what is valuable, and evil intentions are always punished.
47. King Lear and His Three Daughters
Once there was an old king named Lear. He had three daughters—Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. One day, King Lear decided to divide his kingdom among his daughters. But before that, he wanted to know how much each of them loved him. He asked Goneril first. She said that she loved him more than anything in the world. Then Regan said she loved him even more than Goneril. Lear was pleased and gave them large parts of his kingdom. When it was Cordelia’s turn, she quietly said that she loved him like a daughter should love her father. She told the truth, but King Lear did not understand her honest words. He became angry and gave her nothing. He sent her away from the palace. Later, King Lear went to stay with Goneril and Regan, but they were unkind and treated him badly. They did not care for their old father. Then King Lear realized his mistake. He understood that Cordelia was the only one who truly loved him. He felt sad and sorry for not trusting her. At last, Cordelia came back and forgave her father. She took care of him with love and respect. King Lear was very thankful and happy to be with his kind daughter. Before he died, he asked for her forgiveness and blessed her.
Moral: True love is shown through actions, not just words.
48. The Clever Crow and the Snake
Once there was a crow that lived in a big tree. A snake also lived in a hole at the bottom of the same tree. The crow had built a nest on a branch and laid some eggs there. But whenever the crow left the nest, the snake quietly climbed up the tree and ate the eggs. The crow felt very sad and helpless. She did not know how to protect her eggs. One day, she shared her problem with another crow. The other crow thought for a while and gave her a clever idea. The next day, the crow went to the palace. She saw the queen bathing in the river nearby. The queen had kept her gold necklace on the bank. The crow quickly picked up the necklace and flew away with it. The palace guards ran after the crow. The clever crow flew straight to the snake’s hole and dropped the necklace near it. When the guards reached the tree, they saw the necklace near the hole. As they tried to take it back, they saw the snake come out. The guards hit the snake with sticks and killed it. The crow felt safe and happy. She thanked her friend for the clever plan. After that, she lived peacefully and raised her babies without any fear.
Moral: Wisdom and cleverness can solve even the biggest problems.
49. The Honest Boy and the Lost Money Bag
Once there was a boy named Rahim who was very honest and kind. One morning, while he was walking to school, he saw a small bag lying on the road. He picked it up and found that it was full of money. Rahim was surprised. He looked around but did not see anyone nearby. He thought someone must have dropped it by mistake. So, he decided to take the bag to his school and show it to his teacher. When he reached school, he told his teacher about the money bag. The teacher praised Rahim for his honesty and took the bag to the headmaster. The headmaster made an announcement in the school and also sent a message to the nearby police station. Soon, an old man came to the school looking worried. He said that he had lost a money bag on the way to the market. He described the bag correctly and told what was inside it. The headmaster gave the bag back to the old man. The man was very happy and thanked Rahim again and again. He wanted to reward him, but Rahim politely said that he only did the right thing. Everyone in the school praised Rahim for being so honest. The headmaster said that Rahim was a good example for all the students.
Moral: Honesty is always the best policy.
50. The Liar Shepherd
Once there was a young shepherd boy who took care of the village sheep near a dark forest. The villagers had warned him many times about dangerous wolves that might come to attack the flock. One afternoon, feeling lonely and bored, the boy thought of playing a trick. He ran towards the village shouting loudly, “Wolf! Wolf! Help! A wolf is attacking the sheep!” Hearing his cries, all the farmers dropped their work and came running with sticks to chase the wolf away. But when they reached the field, they found the boy laughing. There was no wolf – it was just a joke. The villagers were angry but went back to their work. A few days later, the naughty boy played the same trick again. “Wolf! Wolf!” he shouted. Again the kind villagers came running to help, only to find the boy giggling at his prank. This time they scolded him seriously, warning that lying was very bad. Then one evening, as the sun was setting, a real wolf did come from the forest. The terrified boy screamed with all his might, “Wolf! Wolf! Please help!” But this time, no villagers came. They remembered his earlier tricks and thought he was joking again. The next morning, the villagers found many sheep missing. The boy cried and apologized, finally understanding that because of his lies, no one believed him when he really needed help. He learned a hard lesson that day – always tell the truth, or when you really need help, no one will come.
Moral: Never tell lies, or people won’t trust you.
51. The Ant and the Grasshopper
Once there were two friends named Ant and Grasshopper. They lived in a beautiful green field. The Ant was very hardworking and wise, while the Grasshopper was lazy and loved to sing and dance all day long. During the summer, the Ant worked hard collecting food and storing it in his home for the coming winter. He carried heavy grains and seeds every day, though the sun was hot and the work was tiring.
The Grasshopper laughed at the Ant and said, “Why do you work so hard? Come and sing with me instead.” But the Ant replied, “I am preparing for winter when there will be no food. You should also store some food for yourself.” The Grasshopper just laughed and went on singing and enjoying himself.
Soon the cold winter came. The fields were covered with snow, and there was no food anywhere. The Grasshopper was starving and freezing. He went to the Ant’s house and begged for something to eat. The Ant looked at him and said, “I told you to work hard and store food for winter, but you didn’t listen.” The Grasshopper felt ashamed and realized his mistake.
The Ant, being kind, gave him a little food and said, “Let this be a lesson for you.” The Grasshopper thanked the Ant and promised never to be lazy again. From that day onward, he decided to work hard and plan for the future.
Moral: Work hard and don’t be lazy.
52. Androcles and the Lion
Androcles was a slave who had suffered much under his cruel master. One day, he could bear it no longer and ran away from the house. He wandered through the forest and finally took shelter in a dark cave to hide from people and wild animals. As he entered, he was surprised to find a large lion lying there. The lion looked very fierce, and he was terrified at first. But soon he noticed that the lion was in pain. Its paw had a large thorn stuck in it, which was causing it great suffering.
Though afraid, he felt pity for the lion. Carefully, he approached and pulled out the thorn from the lion’s paw. The lion growled at first, but when the pain stopped, it licked Androcles’ hand as a sign of gratitude. From that day, he and the lion became friends. They shared the cave, and the lion never harmed him.
After some time, he was captured and brought back to Rome. He was thrown into the arena to face wild beasts as punishment for fleeing. To his surprise, one of the beasts released was the same lion he had helped. The lion recognized him and did not attack him. Instead, it licked his hand in front of everyone. The spectators were amazed and asked for his release. The emperor, impressed by the lion’s loyalty and his courage, freed him. He returned to his home a free man, grateful for his life and his unlikely friend.
Moral: Acts of kindness are always rewarded, and true friendship knows no bounds.