The Foolish Stag

(this story may have the title "Pride Hath fall" Or "All that glitters is not gold" Or "Appearances are often deceptive")

Once a stag lived in a jungle. He used to drink clear water from a nearby stream. Whenever he saw his reflection in the water, he praised his beautiful horns. He felt proud of his horns. He disliked his ugly and thin legs. He thought that his legs were a shame for him.

One day as he was drinking water and feeling sorrow for having ugly legs, he saw a pack of hounds running towards him at a short distance. He ran way. The hounds kept on chasing him. He ran as fast as his legs could. Soon he left the hounds far behind.

Suddenly his horns were trapped in a bush. He tried his best to release himself but he could not. His beautiful horns would not let him move. Meanwhile the hounds reached there and they attacked him. They tore him into pieces.

His thin ugly legs which he did not like helped him rescue his life but his favorite horns became the cause of his death.

Union is Strength

(this story may have a title as "The Farmer and His Sons"

Once upon a time a farmer lived in a village. He had four sons. They were quarrelsome and did not live with peace. Their hatred against each other irritated the farmer. He advised them to live in peace but in vain. He thought of a plan.

He sent for his sons. When they came, he asked them to bring a bundle of sticks. They brought the bundle and tied them tight with a sturdy rope. The farmer asked his eldest son to break the bundle. He tried his best but could not break the bundle. Then the farmer one by one asked his sons to break the bundle. No one could break the bundle.

The Dove and The Bee

(this story may have the title "Kindness is always rewarded" Or "Kindness is a great virtue" Or "Kindness never goes unrewarded")

Once a bee was drinking at a stream. Suddenly she slipped and fell into the water. Despite of hard struggle, she could not manage to come out of water. A dove was sitting on a nearby tree watching the whole scene. She thought of helping the bee. She broke a leaf from the tree and dropped it near the bee. The bee got on the leaf. Now his life was safe. The leaf reached the bank and the bee came out of water. The bee was thankful to the dove.

After some days a hunter came in forest and he saw the dove sitting on a tree. He aimed at her. Just as he was ready to fire, an insect stung on his hand and his aim was missed. Hearing the sound of fire, the dove flew away. The insect was the same bee which was saved by the dove. The bee had played her part in saving the life of dove.

 A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

Once there lived two friends in a village. They were fast friends. They were unemployed. They planned to go to city in search of employment. They promised to help each other through thick and thin. They set out on a nice afternoon.

On their way, they had to pass a deep forest. While they were passing the forest, they saw a bear coming towards them. They were in a fix. One of them knew how to climb a tree. He instantly ran up a tree. The other did not know what to do. There was nobody to help him. He was in trouble.

The bear was reaching close. He was to decide quickly. Suddenly he remembered that the bears do not harm the dead. He held his breath and lay down on the ground motionless. The bear came to him and sniffed at him. The bear was convinced that he was dead. The beast left him unharmed and passed away.

When the bear was away, the friend on the tree came down. He asked his friend what the bear had said in his ear. He told that the bear had advised him not to trust a selfish friend. He then diverged his way from his friend.