1. The Pied Piper
Once there was a city named Hamline where life of the city people became very difficult because it was full of
rats. The rats were so ferocious that they often attacked dogs and killed cats let alone doing mischief. So the
people brought the matter up to the city mayor’s notice. The mayor one day called the meeting of the councilors
to find out a solution to the problem. That time a strange man came with a flute in his hand. He declared that he
would drive the rats from the city. For this job he demanded one thousand guilders. The mayor agreed to his
proposal. Then the man started to blow his flute and hearing the sound of his flute the rats started coming out
running and jumping. They followed him until he reached the bank of a river. When he stopped playing on his
flute, the rats jumped into the river and drowned.
Returning from there, the man asked for his money but the mayor agreed to give him only five hundred guilders.
At it, the man became angry. Then he again started fluting. This time the children of the city came out and
followed him. The parents thought that they would, at best, go up to the hill and then they would return. But alas!
When they reached the mountain, it opened and closed again as soon as the children entered. After that they were
no more seen.
A Happy Cobbler
There was a happy cobbler who lived in a hut beside a rich man’s home. He used to go to his work early in the
morning and return home at night. He lived from hand to mouth, but he had great peace of mind.
At night he used to sing out of peace. On the other hand, the rich man had to worry all the time for his riches. So,
he felt jealous of the cobbler’s peace of mind.
One morning he came to the cobbler and gave him a good sum of money. He told him “Keep it and use it
as you need.” The cobbler became very glad and kept the money buried into the floor of his hut. Then he went out
for his work. Today he could not pay attention to his work; he often thought of the security of his money. He,
thus, lost the peace of his mind. Presently he discovered that he had buried not only his money but also his peace.
One morning he pulled out the money and went to the rich man. He gave him the money back and said
“Your money has spoilt my happiness. It is mind not money that can give you peace."
Two Friends and a Beer
One day two friends were going through a forest. While walking they suddenly saw a beer coming towards them.
One friend knew how to climb a tree but another did not. Sensing a great danger, the friend who could climb a
tree climbed a tall tree without thinking of the friend. But the friend who could not climb a tree lay down on the
ground as if he were dead. By this time the beer came near and he suspended his breathing when the beer smelt
him to sense if he was dead or alive. As he was not breathing, it thought him dead and went away. Then the friend
came down from the tree and asked the friend,”What has the beer whispered into your ear?”This friend
replied,”The beer has advised me not to think him my friend who leaves me in danger.”

2. A Thirsty Crow
On a hot summer day, a crow was very thirsty and it flew here and there in search of water. But it, no where,
found any water. Suddenly it could see a jar where there was a little water at the bottom of it.
It tried to drink the water but it was beyond its reach. So, the crow could not drink water to remove its heart
drying thirst. Then it tried heart and soul to turn the jar upside down. It failed in this attempt too.
Necessity is the mother of invention. It could see a pile of pebbles near by. Suddenly an idea came; he began to
pick up the pebbles and drop them into the jar. As a result the water came up and it could drink water.
A greedy Farmer and a Strange Goose
There was farmer who had a strange goose. It used to lay a golden egg every night. Every morning when he
opened the chicken house, he found a golden egg. Selling the eggs he got much money and thus his condition
began to change by and by. But he could not have patience. He thought about how to get many eggs at a time and
how to become rich over night. Once he thought to himself if he cuts open the womb of the goose, he would get
many golden eggs there. Greed is a great sin and it begets misfortune.
So, out of greed he one morning killed the goose and cut open its womb. But alas! No egg was there.
A Crow with a Piece of Meat in its Beak
A hungry crow stole a piece of meat from a house. With the piece of meat in the beak he flew away and sat on a
branch of a tall tree. A hungry fox was going under the tree. Fortunately he looked up and saw the meat. Then it
became his only thought how to get the meat. The wicked never lack the pretext. So the fox, then and there, hit
upon a plan. He said, “Dear friend! How beautiful you look and how sweet your voice is! Would you please sing
once?” The foolish crow became highly glad and failed to control himself. He foolishly sang – Caw. Then it
happened what was to: the meat dropped and the fox grabbed it ; the foolish crow kept looking.