Storytelling adopted from the Internet.

1. Matthew James Friday 1
You Can’t Please the World
(An African folktale based on an Aesop fable.)
Once upon a very hot morning in Cairo, an old man
and his young daughter had to take a long journey
across the Sahara.
Naturally they needed to travel by camel, the ship of
the desert. The old man thought about how best to
travel and he decided that he should ride on the
camel and his daughter should walk alongside. She
should learn to show respect for her elders.
After a few hours of travelling in the heat and dust,
they happened upon a travelling merchant, resting at
an oasis. The travelling merchant was shocked by the
sight.
“Why is this young girl being forced to walk on the
hot sand with her young tender feet!? Old man, your
feet are tough and leathery. You should be walking
and your young daughter should be allowed to ride
the camel in comfort.”
The old man was shamed by this, so he dismounted
and let his daughter ride atop the camel. The man

2. Matthew James Friday 2
thanked the merchant for his wise advice and
continued on his journey.
A few hours later they met another merchant
travelling with a caravan of many other traders. The
merchant was amazed at the sight.
“Old man, why do you struggle along on foot whilst
your daughter rides atop the camel!? Your camel is
strong and fit. It has plenty of strength to carry both
you both in comfort!”
Surprised and pleased by this advice, the old man
mounted the camel along with his daughter. He
thanked the merchant and they continued on his
way.
A few hours later they met a third travelling
merchant, travelling. The merchant was also
shocked.
“I can’t believe my eyes!” he exclaimed “Look at that
poor exhausted camel having to bear the weight of
you two! Get off and walk so the poor animal can
rest.”
Again shamed, the old man and his daughter
dismounted and the trio continued on foot. However,

3. Matthew James Friday 3
soon the camel was too tired to walk so the old man
and his daughter had no choice but to carry the
camel.
Not long later they came to a camp for the evening.
There they met all three of the travelling merchants.
All three of them laughed.
“This is madness!” exclaimed the merchants. “An old
man and a child carrying a camel.”
At this point the old man stamped his feet and
shouted “In the name of Allah the Merciful I have
had enough! Each of you has told me to do
something different. Each time I have tried to take
your advise and please you. Each time it seems we
are wrong! What am I suppose to do?”
“You cannot please the world,” the first travelling
merchant said.
“You must do what you feel is right in your heart,”
said the second travelling merchant.
“Do so with no desire for praise, with no need to
glory and you will do well,” said the third merchant.

4. Matthew James Friday 4
The old man sat down. He was hot, weary and
thirsty.
“Daughter, I leave it to you to decide what we should
do.”
The daughter looked at the three travelling
merchants. She looked at her old father. She looked
at the camel. Then she decided what to do.
What do you think she decided to do?