Long ago, there was Mexican boy named Juan who helped raise money for his family by growing chili peppers in his garden.
But, one day, when he came out to his chili patch, e found a ram there eating some peppers and stomping on others. “Go away, Mr. Ram.” Said Juan. “Those are my peppers.” The ram replied, “Get away from me or I’ll butt you into the next country!” Juan started to cry and all the animals on the little farm fell sorry for him. The cat tried to help. She went up to the ram and said, “Get out of here or I’ll butt you into the next country!” So, the cat ran away. The dog tried to help. He came out and barked the ram, but the ram lowered his head and said, “Get away from me or I’ll butt you into the next country!” the dog ran away.
Finally, a little ant said, “I can help you, Juan.” The ant climbed onto the ram and began biting him all over. The ram jumped up and started running. He ran so fast and so far now he is in the next country.
Monthly Archives: February 2009
The Wolf and Stork
A long, long time ago, the wolf and the stork were friends. One day, the wolf asked the stork to come to his house to eat. When the stork arrived at the wolf’s house, the wolf put two bowls of soup on the table. The wolf ate his bowl of soup so quickly. When he finished, he asked the stork, “Did you like my soup?”
But, the stork was angry because he couldn’t eat the soup. His beak was too long. When the stork went home, he was still hungry. The wolf laughed and laughed. Then, the stork had an idea. He asked the wolf to come to dinner. He filled two tall pitches with good soup. They began to eat. When the stork finished eating, he asked the wolf if he wanted more to eat.
But, the wolf was angry. His mouth was so big that he couldn’t get it into the pitcher. The wolf went home hungry, and the stork laughed and laughed. The wolf and stork have never been friends ever since.
Snow White
A long time ago, a child was born to a queen and king. She was called Snow White. When the queen died, the king remarried. This new queen was wicked and hated Snow White. The queen ordered that Snow White was to be treated as a servant.
Snow White grew to be a beautiful girl. One day, a prince who was riding by saw her at work and immediately fell in love with her.
The queen was beautiful, too. Every day, she asked her magic mirror, “Who is fairest in the land?” The mirror always answered, “You are the fairest of all.”
One day, the mirror answered that Snow White was the fairest in the land. In a rage, the queen gave orders to one of her huntsmen to take Snow White into the woods and kill her.
But, the huntsman had a kind heart and he couldn’t carry out the order. So, he told Snow White to run away. She fled into the woods where the seven dwarfs lived. Their house was small and strange.
Snow White entered the little house and found it very untidy. She started to clean it up. Upstairs, she found seven little beds. Feeling very tired, she stretched out on one of the beds and soon fell asleep.
When the dwarfs came home, they were surprised to find Snow White. After some arguments, they let her stay. She promised to cook and look after them.
The queen discovered where Snow White was living. She was distinguishing herself as a witch. She took a poisoned apple and set out for the dwarfs’ cottage. She gave Snow White the poisoned apple. Snow White ate it. As soon as she bit into the apple. She sank into unconsciousness.
Thinking she was dead, the dwarfs built a glass coffin and put her in it. For days she lay in the forest in her glass coffin. One day, the Prince who was riding through the forest looking for Snow White found her. He leaned over and kissed her. She opened her eyes and sat up with a smile. Everyone was happy. The Prince took Snow White to his palace where they were married. They lived happy ever after.
Dimpy
Once upon a time, there lived a merchant. He was rich, but mean. Nearby, there also lived a little girl with her mother. When the girl smiled, a dimple would form on her pink cheeks. So, everyone called her Dimpy.
Dimpy was very poor. One day, her mother fell ill. She was hopelessly sick, but she had no money to the doctor and bought some medicines. Dimpy loved her mother dearly and wanted to save her life. She left desperate and thought of going to the wealthy merchant for help. She pleaded, “Sir, my mother is very sick. Please help me with some money.”
That merchant was a heartless man. He smiled and said, “Little girl, how can I help you? I don’t even know who you are.” And he refused to give Dimpy any help.
She was miserable. She thought of a way out and wrote a letter to God.
Dear God,
My mother is very unwell. Please send some money for medicine.
Love,
Dimpy
And then, she addressed the letter thus “To God in Heaven”
As Dimpy was about to post the letter there reached the postman to clear the mail. He was a kind hearted soul. Suddenly, his eyes feel on the strange address that Dimpy wrote.
Postman : Hi, there! What do you want?
Dimpy : I want to send a letter, Sir.
Postman : Who would you like to send it to?
Dimpy : I would like to send the letter to God in Heaven.
Postman : What made you write the letter to God in Heaven?
Dimpy : Sir, my mother is very sick and we have no money to go to the doctor to buy medicine.
Postman : How does that make you feel child?
Dimpy : I’m really sad, Sir. I don’t know what I have to do. So, I am going to send a letter to God. Hopefully, he could help me by sending us some money.
Postman : Oh, I can see why you’re so sad. Don’t worry little girl, I will help you send the letter.
The kind hearted postman took pity on her. He wished to help the unhappy child. So, he wrote a brief note:
“I’ve received your letter and I am sending you some money to buy the medicine for your mother. The doctor will visit you in the evening.”
“Love God”
Later, the noble postman delivered the money and also arranged for a doctor. Dimpy was thrilled. God had helped her. Her mother well soon. Eventually, she was really happy and relief.
The Old Man who Made Flowers on Trees
1. A Home for Shiro
Long, long ago, there was an old woodcutter who lived in small village by the side of a great forest. One morning, he was going to work as he did every day, when he saw a little dog. It was lying by the side of the path and was thin and weak. The dog was nearly dead from cold and hunger. The old man felt very sorry for the poor little dog.
He picked it up and put it in carefully inside. When his wife saw him returned so early and hurried, the old lady went out to meet him. She asked why he had come back so soon. He took out the dog and showed to her.
“You poor little dog!” she cried. “Who has been so cruel to you?” “How clever you look with your clear bright eyes and pointed ears! Two old people like us would like to have you in this house,”
“Yes, yes.” Said the old man who liked the idea of keeping the dog. They went inside and lay it down comfortably. They looked after him well and soon the dog grow well and strong. The old man and his wife called Shiro which means white.
The old man and his wife had no children. They loved Shiro like a son and Shiro followed them wherever they went.
2 Shiro discovered gold coins
One day, in winter, the old man went to his field to dig some vegetables. Shiro was always happy when they did things like this. He ran beside him, jumped and played around with him as they went. When they reached the field, he ran around even more wildly. He barked with excitement as he jumped to the bush.
Suddenly, he stopped. His ears became more pointed and he looked as though he was listening for something. Then, he put his nose to the ground and moved slowly to the corner of the field. He smelled at a little pile of earth. All at once, he began digging and barking loudly. The old man at the other end of the field heard him. He thought Shiro must have found something very unusual and hurried over to see what it was. He began to dig where Shiro had been digging. He had hardly begun when hundreds of gold coins poured into the air, like water from a fountain. The old man was very surprised and hurried away to bring his wife to see what he had found.
3 A Wicked Neighbor
Unfortunately, the old man lived in a bad neighborhood. Their neighbor was a wicked and greedy man. He also heard Shiro’s barking. From his field which was next to the old man’s, he saw what happened. He was very jealous and wanted some gold for himself. He pretended to be friendly, so the old man gave the dog to his neighbor. As they said goodbye, he told Shiro to be a good dog. But, Shiro would not follow his new master. Shiro lay down on the ground and shook with fear. The neighbor was gentle at first, then he shouted but he only made Shiro more afraid. He grew more and more angry. The cruel neighbor tied ropes around the dog’s neck and dragged him to a corner that the poor dog could hardly lie down. It was so tight around his throat that his own master could hear his weak barks.
“Now then,” shouted the cruel neighbor, “Where is it buried? Find it for me or I will kill you.”
Shiro is badly hurt and dies
He dug in the ground before Shiro’ nose. As he dug, he hit against something hard. The man stood still. The neighbor thought he had found gold. The next moment, he was digging the earth with both hands. But, he found old bits of cloth, wooden shoes, and broken bricks. The dog was very frighten underneath the tree. He was badly hurt, but the rope was broken and he was able to run away. Shiro was in great pain and soon his master heard his cries and hurried over. When he saw what had happened, the old man was very unhappy. He took Shiro gently in his arms.
“Shiro, my poor Shiro, what terrible things has happened to you? Will you ever forgive me? Will you ever forgive my cruel mistake?” the old man cried. But, Shiro could not do nothing, he held him more tightly. The old man returned home sadly with his dog.
4 A Giant Tree
The old man and woman were very sad. They did not sleep that night. Early next morning, they buried the little dog in the corner of the field where Shiro had found gold. The old man put a stone over the place and beside it; he planted a young pine tree. Every day, the old man and his wife went to the place where he was buried. They stood with bent heads and thought of their friend.
The tree grew more quickly than any tree had ever grown. In a week’s time, it had branches. In two weeks, two people could not put their arms around it. By the end of a month, it was so tall that its top leaves seemed to touch the sky. Each day, as he looked at it, the old man said, “Wife, our little Shiro is dead, but it is as if he lived in this tree. He could not be killed. He is still here. I am sure of it.” And they both look at the tree.
Other people soon heard of the growing tree. Every day, came from mountains and valleys far away and stood around it. Its highest branches were now partly hidden by the cloud. They stretched their necks to see them. They shook their heads and whispered to each other that it could not be true. But, when they lifted their heads and looked again, they saw that it was flowers growing on the trees.
5 Ashes and Flowers
Next day, the old man came to ask his neighbour to give him the bowl. But, the neighbor gave him unfriendly greeting. “The bowl was cracked and useless. It broke as soon as I started to use it, so I cut it up and burn it to ashes. If they are any use to you help yourself. There they are!”
The old man was very sad. He was not angry, only very sad indeed. “First, my dear Shiro. Now, my wonderful bowl,” he said to himself. The old man brought nothing only ashes to put them back where Shiro was buried. Then, a wonderful thing happened. Where ever they touch the branches leaves appeared flowers. It liked in spring.
“Look! Look! Old Flower man can make flower grow on trees.”
An important visitor
It happened that the most important man was visiting the village. He had many servants with him. When he heard the shout of the old man and the crowd of people around him, then he stopped his horse and told his servant to ask what was happening. By this time, the old man who was very happy climbed a cherry tree full of pink and white flowers.
“Wonderful! Really wonderful! A man can make flowers grow where he is wishing. Old man, I shall reward you,” and he got down from his horse. A servant brought a bag filled with gold coins. The old man could hardly believe to what had happened to him and he soon got home to tell her about the ashes and the most important man. He hurried along holding the bag tightly very happy and smiling.
The greedy neighbor fails again. He saw everything that had happened and was very unhappy. Immediately, he began spreading ash on the branches, but no flowers grew. Instead, the ash covered the most important man and all his servants in a clouds dust. The servants dragged the greedy neighbor.
The greedy man asked the important man to forgive him for what he had done. They slowly changed their ways. They became gentle and good friends. On every festival all four went to the place where Shiro was buried. They prayed and offered mochi-cakes, so that he should live on in peace. For the rest of their days, they were very kind to each other and to the people of the village. All ended well.
