Stories From Around The World
Stories From Around The World
Stories From Around The World
Compiled by
S.Geethapriya
3. The Short-sighted Brothers “Let’s settle this once and for all. I’ve heard the
monastery is putting up a tablet inscribed with
(China)
a saying, above the main doorway, tonight.
Three elderly brothers, all very short-sighted,
Let’s go there tomorrow and test our vision.
lived in a large house on the outskirts of a city,
Whoever can read the inscription with the least
in China. One day the youngest brother
strain will get charge of our money. Agreed?”
suggested that he should take charge of the
finances. “Elder brother’s sight is so bad, he
cannot see how much money he’s receiving or
giving,” he said, “and people take advantage of
his disability.”
“As if you can see better,” sneered the second-
youngest brother. “If you’re saying our
finances should be handled by the one who has
the best sight, then it is I who should be given
charge. I can see better than either of you.” “I
have my doubts about that,” said the eldest
brother.
15 16
“Agreed,” said his brothers in unison. "It reads: Be Honest At All Times.”
“Good! Now go away and let me get a few “Is there any decoration around it?”
winks.” “The tablet has a flowery border.”
As soon as they had gone, the eldest brother The second brother went away very pleased
sneaked out of the house and went to the with himself. Hardly had he gone when the
monastery where he met a monk. third brother arrived there. He too enquired
“I’ve heard you’re putting up an inscription about the inscription and on being told what it
over the doorway,” he said. “Can you tell me was, asked if there was any other writing on
what the inscription reads?” it.”
“Certainly. It’s a quotation from Confucius. It “Only the donor’s name, Wang Lee, at the
reads: Be Honest At All Times." bottom,” said the monk.
The brother went away chuckling at his The next morning the three brothers made
cleverness. A little later the second brother their way to the monastery.
arrived there. “There’s the inscription,” said the oldest when
“Can you tell me what the inscription you are they drew near the entrance.
going to put up over the doorway reads?” he “I can clearly make out the writing. It reads:
said to the monk.“Everybody seems to want to Be Honest At All Times.”
know,” said the man.
17 18
“Your sight is better than I thought,” said the The monk they had talked to the previous
second brother. evening came out of the monastery just then.
“But definitely not better than mine. Can you “Oh, you’ve come to see the inscription,” he
see the decoration around the inscription?” said. “So sorry. We couldn’t put it up yesterday
“Decoration? What decoration?” evening. We are going to put it up today.”
“There’s a floral decoration all around the
tablet,” said the brother, triumphantly.
“Very good, very good,” applauded the
youngest brother. “But can either of you see
any other writing on the tablet besides the
inscription?”
“Other writing?” intoned the second brother,
his face falling. “What other writing is there?”
“The name of the donor, Wang Lee,” said the
youngest brother, pointing.
“Can’t you see it? It’s at that corner.”
19 20
from tomorrow!”
31 32
He will order his secretary to fulfill his 7. Double Trouble (Indonesia)
promises. His secretary too is a busy man. He
will pass on the order to his assistant who too
Jamal was a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow. He
is a busy man. So the emperor’s order will go
lounged about the house all day, much to his
down from subordinate to subordinate and
wife Fatima’s annoyance. One day, Fatima told
finally in the course of a few months…it’ll get
her husband to dig the patch of land outside
lost!”
their hut.“I’ll borrow a spade from our
“We’ll appeal to the emperor!” shouted the
neighbor,” she said. “Then we can plant some
Frenchman.
vegetables.”
“The emperor will not know what you’re talking
Jamal agreed reluctantly. The soil was hard
about,” said the Jew. “By then our great
and he was soon tired. He leaned against the
victory will have become a dim memory. You
spade for a moment, then, hearing Fatima’s
should have asked for something that the
voice, he quickly resumed digging.
emperor could give immediately – like I did.
Thunk! His spade struck metal. Jamal excitedly
Now, if you’ll excuse me gentlemen, I have
scraped away the mud. It was a big cooking
work to do.”
pot. As Jamal leaned over to see if there was
And leaving the three officers gaping, the Jew
anything in it, his pouch of tobacco and some
went off to arrange for his holiday.
coins fell into the pot.
33 34
Jamal bent to retrieve them, then jumped back They immediately set to squabbling over
in surprise. There were now two pouches and Jamal. Jamal stood irresolute for a moment,
double the number of coins! “Come quickly!” then jumped into the pot. The new Jamal
he called to Fatima. “Look what I’ve found!” refused to leave with his wife till they were
When Fatima came over, she was so excited given an identical set of possessions —right
that she put the coins in four or five times. down to a blanket with two holes. But how did
Soon there was a tidy pile of money. She he recognize his wife?
stooped to collect the coins and lost her
balance. Into the pot she fell and out came two She was a mirror image so her nose ring was
Fatimas, one a mirror image of the other. on the left nostril, while the real Fatima had
always worn hers on the right!
35 36
9. The Tiger's whisker (Korea) "I could make such a potion, it is true, but I
lack one of the ingredients that go into its
making."
An old hermit lived in the Lun Mountains of
"What is this ingredient?" asked the woman.
Korea. Many people sought his advice for he
"It is a tiger’s whisker."
was a font of wisdom and was knowledgeable
The woman left promising to get what he
in the magical arts. One day, a woman came
wanted. The very next day she went in search
and pleaded with him to help her regain her
of a tiger and finally saw one on the banks of a
husband’s affection.
river. The tiger snarled when he saw her and
"He was so loving and caring before he left for
she retreated.
the wars," she explained. "He has returned
She returned to the spot the next day. Again
after three years but now he is cold and aloof."
the tiger snarled and again she retreated. But
"War does these things to men," said the
she kept going to the place and gradually the
hermit. "They say you can make a potion that
animal got used to her presence and stopped
can kindle love in the person who consumes
snarling.
it," said the woman.
She began to bring him food. In course of time
the tiger became so friendly that he would
come right up to her to take the food.
41 42
One day she timidly reached out and patted his He took the whisker to the fireplace and
head. A few days later she ran her hand down dropped it into the fire. "W-what have you
the side of his face. done!" said the woman, aghast. "You promised
And then one day she deftly pulled out one of to make me a magic potion!"
his whiskers. "You don’t need one," said the hermit, softly.
"Tell me, how did you win the tiger’s affection?
Through gentleness and a great deal of
patience. Would a man be less responsive than
a savage and blood thirsty beast? Go and win
over your husband as you did the tiger."
The woman turned over what the hermit had
said, in her mind as she slowly made her way
home. When she saw her husband her first
instinct was to turn away, then remembering
She rushed to the hermit’s house with the the tiger and the hermit’s words, she checked
whisker. herself and moved forward, a smile on her
"I’ve got it!" she said, triumphantly. face.
"Good," said the hermit.
43 44
10. Why Crows are Black that he had found a crow to deliver the gem.
As the crow sped through the sky with the
(Myanmar)
silken bag, the aroma of food reached its
nostrils. Looking down it saw that a wedding
The Sun while going on his daily rounds saw a
feast was in progress, and immediately it was
princess and fell in love with her. Whenever he
distracted from its mission. Food was one thing
could slip away from the heavens he would
it could never resist!
take human form and go down to the princess
Alighting on a tree nearby, it hung the bag on
to spend some time with her. The princess too
a twig and went off to find some food.
became quite fond of him and would wait for
While the crow was feasting, a merchant
him to come.
passing by saw the bag on the tree, and
One day the Sun decided to send her a blood-
knocked it down with a pole.
red ruby as a token of his love for her. He put
When he opened the bag and saw its contents
the gem in a silken bag, and calling a crow that
he almost swooned in joy. Quickly pocketing
was flying past, asked the bird to deliver the
the ruby, he filled the bag with dry cow dung
gem to his beloved. Crows had milky white
that was lying there, and then deftly returned
feathers in those days and it was considered
the bag to the branch.
auspicious if a crow came anywhere near you.
So the Sun was pleased
45 46
The princess was in the garden. When the crow
gave her the bag, she took it eagerly, knowing
that it was from the Sun. But when she saw its
contents she reeled back in shock and anger.
47 48
Believing that it was the Sun’s way of telling
It fell out of his pocket and rolled into a deep 11.heTop Answers (Nepal)
her that did not care for her, she flung the
pit.
bag away, rushed to her palace, and never
Men have been trying to dig it out ever since.
came out again.
Bhupendra Prasad had spent a huge sum on
Many precious stones have been found in the
When the Sun learnt of what had happened he
his only son’s wedding which had been
process, making Burma (now Myanmar) one of
was furious. So great was his anger that when
celebrated with pomp and splendor.
the richest sources of rubies and sapphires, but
he turned his scorching gaze on the crow, its
A few weeks after the wedding, Bhupendra,
the ruby that the Sun sent to the princess has
feathers were burned black.
wanting to test his daughter-in-law’s
yet to be found.
Its feathers have been black ever since.
intelligence asked her: “Can you guess how
It was all done so quickly that the crow missed The story goes on to tell us that the ruby did
much I spent on your wedding?”
all the action. After having its fill, it flew up to not stay with the man who stole it.
“About the cost of a sack of rice,” said the
the tree, and picking up the bag took it to the woman.
person it was intended for. Her father-in-law’s mouth dropped open in
astonishment.
“The cost of a sack of rice!” he spluttered. “You
foolish girl, I spent a fortune on your wedding!”
The woman said nothing.
“She’s a nitwit,” thought Bhupendra.
49 50
“A nitwit! My poor son!” Bhupendra, greatly embarrassed by his
A few weeks later, while they were all going to daughter-in-law’s question, walked away
a relative’s wedding they met up with a funeral without waiting for the mourner’s answer.
procession. Presently they came upon labourers working in
“Who has died?” asked Bhupendra, stopping a a field.
mourner. “Looks like you had a good harvest!” shouted
“Is it just one corpse or a hundred?” asked his Bhupendra.
daughter-in-law. “But are you reaping this year’s harvest or last
year’s?” asked his daughter-in-law.
“Your wife is mad!” said Bhupendra to his son.
“Mad! She talks nonsense!”
“Does she?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know!” roared his
father. “Didn’t you hear the silly questions she
asked?”
“Her questions may not be as silly as they
seem,” said his son.
51 52
“Why not ask her to explain?” explained the daughter-in-law. “I was
Bhupendra did not say anything. But later enquiring whether they were working to pay off
when he found himself alone with his last year’s debt or had paid it all and were
daughter-in-law he decided to act on his son’s beginning anew.”
advice. Bhupendra now realized that his daughter-in-
“Tell me,” he said, “what did you mean when law, far from being a nitwit, was probably
you asked the mourner whether they were cleverer than he was.
carrying one corpse or a hundred?” “One last question,” he said. “Why did you say
“Some men have scores of dependents,” I spent only the equivalent of the price of a
explained the young woman. “When such a sack of rice for your wedding when you know
man dies many lives are shattered. His full well I spent a fortune?”
dependents die with him, in a way. That is why “What you spent on the essentials of the
I asked the mourner whether they were marriage amounted to only a few hundred
carrying one corpse or a hundred.” rupees,” smiled the young woman. “The rest
“What did you mean when you asked those you spent to uphold and enhance your
laborers whether they were harvesting this prestige. In other words, not on the marriage
year’s crop or last year’s?” but on yourself.”
“These laborers are perennially in debt,”
53 54
12. Disputed Waters (Persia) The farmer of course refused and the case was
taken to a Kazi (judge).
After hearing both sides the Kazi said to the
A man sold a well to a farmer, but when the
man who had sold the well:
farmer went to draw water from it, stopped
"Since you sold only the well, you have no
him and said:
right to keep your water in it. Pay a rent to this
"I sold you the well but not the water. You will
farmer for using his well or take your water out
have to pay separately for the water."
at once!"
The man realized that he had been outwitted,
and bowing to the Kazi quietly left the court.
55 56
14. The Dissatisfied Devotee stopped for breath there would be another cow
on the beach. The beach was small and so as
(Rome)
the number of cows started growing it
woman's chamber in great excitement. This the lid and then they all stared with disbelief at
was the day they had been waiting for, for the contents: ordinary pebbles.
weeks and months and years. "The gems might be below," said the oldest
They bolted the door from the inside and brother and frantically overturned the
huddled around the casket. With trembling contents. All they found was a note from their
mother. It read:
89 90
"Great disappointment awaits all those whose 22. Royal Servant (Africa)
lives centre around money. It is a sad thing
when an old woman has to resort to trickery to
The King of Kamera in Africa was a proud and
get her sons to look after her. It shows lack of
stern man, feared by all his subjects.
character not only in her sons but in the
One day while sitting in his mud palace,
mother too. You at least have time to change
surrounded by fawning courtiers and watched
yourselves and my last message to you is: try
by a multitude of people who had come to see
to do so".
him, he was suddenly overcome by a sense of
grandeur and loudly declared that he was
master of the world and that all men were his
servants.
“You are mistaken,” said a frail voice. “All men
are servants of one another.”
A deathly silence followed the remark. The
blood froze in the veins of the people
assembled there. Then the king exploded in
anger.
91 92
“Who said that!” he demanded, rising from the not one but three wells dug in your village. But
royal stool. if you fail, you’ll lose your head!”
“Who dares suggest that I am a servant?” “In our village,” said the old man, “when we
“I do,” said a voice in the crowd, and the accept a challenge, we touch the person’s feet.
93 94
people parted to reveal a white-haired old Let me touch your feet. Hold my stick.”
The king took the stick and the old man bent 23. The Generous Student
man, leaning heavily on a stout stick.
down and touched the monarch’s feet.
“Who are you?” asked the king. (China)
“Now you may give it back to me,” he said,
“I am Boubakar,” said the man. “We have no
straightening up. The king gave him back his
water in our village. I have come to ask for a
Lin Piao used to absent himself from classes
stick.
well to be dug there.”
very often and one day the principal of the
“Do you want any more proof?” asked
“So you are a beggar!” roared the king,
college made up his mind to expel him. So he
Boubakar.
striding down to where the man stood. “Yet
sent for the young man.
“Proof?” asked the king, bewildered.
you have the temerity to call me a servant!”
Lin arrived just as the principal was about to
“You held my stick when I asked you to and
“We all serve one another,” said Boubakar,
go for lunch. "Is this the time to come!" said
gave it back to me when I asked you for it,”
showing no fear, “and I will prove it to you
the principal, sternly.
said the old man. “As I said, all good men are
before nightfall.”
"Forgive me, Sir," said Lin, "but I got to college
servants of one another.”
“Do that,” said the monarch. “Force me to wait
very late today. You see, I found a lump of
The king was so pleased with Boubakar’s wit
on you. If you can do that I will have
gold in our field." "A lump of gold!" said the
and daring that he not only had wells dug in
principal, his eyes popping out. "Oh, my, what
his village but also retained him as an adviser.
are you going to do with it?"
"I decided to build a palatial house, buy several
acres of land and several head of cattle," said
the student.
95 96
"I also decided to give you a small sum for the
trouble you have taken in educating me."
The principal was pleased and invited Lin to eat
with him. The young man ate ravenously but
the principal hardly touched his food. He was
wondering how much Lin would give him and if
it would be enough to buy that small paddy
field he had always wanted.
"I hope you've kept the gold in a safe place,"
he said, suddenly coming out of his reverie.
"I never got a chance to do that," said Lin. "It "I'm happy you remembered me in your
disappeared the moment my mother shook me dream," he said, finally. "I hope you remember
awake." me when you really get some gold. Now please
"What!" screamed the principal. "You mean it leave."
was all a dream?!" The young man nodded. It was only when the young man had left that
The principal controlled himself with a great the principal remembered why he had sent for
effort of will. him.