Short Stories - Run !!!

One day a Cheetah, fastest running animal in the world, was looking for prey for its lunch. It saw a rabbit. The Cheetah decided to catch the rabbit and started to chase it. On seeing the Cheetah coming closer, the Rabbit too started running. The Cheetah could not able to catch the rabbit and it increased its speed running. The rabbit too increased its speed. Still the Cheetah could not able to catch the rabbit. Hence the Cheetah increased its speed further more. The rabbit too increased its speed further more. Then the Rabbit went and got hidden inside a small hole in a rock, in which Cheetah could not enter. The Cheetah decided to give up and was about to return. But one question was itching in the Cheetah’s mind. The Cheetah decided to ask that question to the Rabbit itself. 

The Cheetah asked the Rabbit “O Rabbit, I am thinking that I am the fastest running animal in the world. But how could you manage to run faster than me?”. 

The Rabbit asked the Cheetah “Cheetah, for what were you running?”. 

The Cheetah replied “I was running for my lunch”.

Then the Rabbit replied “I was running for my life”.

Aesop stories - Timidity

Rabbits are among the most timid of animals.

The rabbits of a colony once had a meeting to discuss this trait of theirs.

They came to the conclusion that as their fearness would never leave them, they were doomed to a miserable existence and it would be better to drown themselves and end their misery once and for all.

Accordingly, they began to move towards a large lake.

When the frogs in the lake saw the large number of rabbits approaching, they were filled with fear and made for the deepest part of the lake.

Seeing this, the leader of the rabbits stopped and said to his fellow-creatures: "It is true we are timid, but here are animals more timid than ourselves. There is hope for us yet. Let us go back to our homes."

And that is what they did.

Moral: Just as we are afraid of others, others are afraid of us.

Aesop stories - The Unseen Enemy

A gnat, annoyed with a lion, for disturbing its sleep with its roaring, stung the beast on its snout.

The lion tried to crush it with its paws but without success.

The insect dodged the great cat’s claws and stung it again on its face.

Elated by its victory over the king of beasts, the gnat turned to gloat.

Unfortunately, there was a web in its path. It got caught in the web, and was devoured by the spider.

An insignificant foe is sometimes more dangerous than a mighty adversary because we’re not on guard against it.

Aesop stories - The Sea pleads helplessness

A shipwrecked man struggled mightily against the waves and was finally cast ashore, more dead than alive.

When finally he regained consciousness, he saw that the sea was as calm as a pond.

"How deceitful you are!" he shouted to the sea. "You draw men unto you showing your peaceful side but when they are in your power you wreak fury against them!"

The sea took the form of a woman to defend herself.

"Blame me not!" said the woman. "I'm always peaceful. It is the wind that creates waves and turns me into a monster."

Moral: Beware of people who are controlled by others.

Aesop stories - The Oil Lamp Humbled

An oil-lamp, observing how well it was lighting up the area around it, was filled with pride.

"Even the sun could not do better!" he boasted.

Just then the wind started to blow and the lamp went out.

"Next time you think of comparing yourself to the sun," said its owner, re-lighting it, "remember the sun doesn't have to be re-lit."

Aesop stories - The Foolish Donkey

An idol-maker had to deliver an idol to a customer. He placed it on his donkey's back and they started on their journey.

Now the idol-maker was extremely skilled at his job and this particular idol was one of the best he had ever made.

Whoever saw it, stopped to bow down and pray.

The donkey thought they were bowing to him.

He was enormously pleased and flattered and not wishing to go away from a place where he was held in such high esteem, came to an abrupt stop.

Nothing his master did would induce him to start walking again, and finally his master lifted the idol on to own head and resumed his journey.

The donkey stood where he was, head held high, and braying sonorously until he suddenly became aware that there was no one watching him.

The people were now following his master and bowing to the idol.

The donkey realized that his pride had clouded his judgment and feeling ashamed of himself, ran to rejoin his master.

Aesop stories - The Foolish Dog

There was once a dog that used to run up quietly behind people and bite their heels.

Fed up of the numerous complaints, the owner tied a bell around the dog’s neck so that the sound of the bell would alert people whenever the animal came near them.

The dog felt the bell was a reward of some sort and became extremely conceited, turning up his nose whenever he met other dogs on the street.

One day a hound brought him down to earth with some plain speaking and when the dog learnt why the bell had been put around his neck he slunk away in shame.

Moral: Sometimes what appears to be a clap on the back is actually a slap on the face.

Aesop stories - The Clever Sheep

One day a wolf cornered a sheep.

"You can't escape,” said the wolf, baring his teeth.

"I know," said the sheep, softly.

"Please grant me a last wish. Sing a song so that I may dance one last time.'

"Certainly,' said the wolf and throwing back his head began to howl.

Hearing him howl the farmer's dogs rushed to the spot and drove him away.

Moral: Don't attempt anything that is beyond your ability.

Aesop stories - The Ailing Deer

A sick stag was lying in a corner, helpless and weak.

He was glad he had collected enough grass to last him through his period of illness.

But suddenly, to his dismay, he saw that some friends who had come to see him were helping themselves to the food.

"Please go away," he said. "My illness will not kill me but your greed certainly could."

Moral: Thoughtless friends are more harmful than enemies.

Aesop stories - Speedy Rabbit

A dog spotted a rabbit and started chasing him, but the rabbit got away.

Seeing this, a goat stopped to gloat.

"Too fast for you, wasn't he?" he sneered.

"Why are you surprised?" said the dog. "I was chasing him for fun; he was running for his life."

Moral: Performance depends on motivation.

Aesop stories - Running with Herd

A young deer said to his mother, “I’m larger than a dog and swifter and I have horns to defend myself with. Yet when a dog appears I run away with the others. I have decided not to run from dogs, in future.”

Just then they heard the bark of a dog.

The young deer was filled with fear and forgetting his resolve, took to his heels along with his mother and the rest of the herd.

Moral: Fear drives away Reason.

Aesop stories - Plane Truth

Two travelers, seeking respite from the searing heat of the midday sun, took shelter under a leafy tree.

They soon felt cool and refreshed.

“What sort of tree is this? Does it produce edible fruits?” asked one of the men to the other.

“It’s a plane tree,” said his companion. “Don’t waste your time looking for fruits. It produces neither edible fruits nor good wood. It’s one of the most useless trees around.”

“How can you say that when you’re enjoying my shade at this very moment?” snapped the tree.

Moral: Often, a person’s worst critics are those who have benefited the most from him.

Aesop stories - Pale Hunter

A man who wanted to be known as a fearless hunter set out to bag game.

He found the tracks of a lion and followed them till they disappeared in stony ground.

Just then, a woodcutter came by.

Pale Hunter “Look here, my man," said the hunter grandly. "I was following a lion and have lost his tracks. Can you help me find them again?"

""There's no need to look for his tracks," said the woodcutter. "I'll take you to the lion himself."

The hunter turned pale.

"The l-lion," he said, "no, no, just show me his tracks."

Moral: One who pretends to be what he is not is soon exposed.

Aesop stories - Monkey Business

A monkey climbed the roof of a house and entertained the people who had gathered below to watch it, with its antics.

After it had gone, an ass who craved popularity climbed the roof and tried to perform the same tricks.

In the process, it dislodged and broke several tiles.

The owner of the house was furious.

His servants went up, drove the ass down, and beat it black and blue.

Moral: Actions that suit others may not suit you. Be yourself.

Aesop stories - Last Boast

A fir tree said boastingly to the bramble bush growing in its shade:

“You are useless. Nobody wants you. I am everywhere used for roofs and houses. Men can’t do without me.”

“You’re so right,” said the bramble. “Here’s a man coming to you with an axe, right now. Farewell.”

Moral: Pride comes before a fall.

Aesop stories - Hanging Together

The cranes were eating grain from his field, so the farmer set a trap and caught several of them.

Among them was a stork.

“You can see I don’t belong here,” said the stork. “I’m a law- abiding bird. Please let me go.”

You may well be what you claim to be,” said the farmer. “But I caught you along with these robbers, so you will have to hang with them.”

Moral: You are judged by the company you keep.

Aesop stories - Foxy Rooster

A fox sneaked into a farm and grabbed a prize rooster.

The farmer saw him and raised the alarm and he with his dogs started chasing the fox.

The fox, though he was holding the rooster in his mouth, was running very fast.

"Get him! Get him!" shouted the farmer to his dogs.

"No!" suddenly screamed the rooster. "Don't come near me!"

"My master was very cruel to me," explained the rooster to the fox. "Tell him to stay away from me."

The fox was delighted. "He wants you to stay away from him!" he shouted at the farmer, in the process releasing his hold on the rooster.

The rooster flew up into a tree and stayed there till he was rescued by his master.

Moral: Think twice before you open your mouth to speak.

Aesop stories - Fox in Cart

A fox, observing a fish cart coming, lay down and pretended to be dead.

The cart man, tempted by the idea of making some money by selling the fox's fur, picked up the animal by its tail and flung it into the back of the cart among the fish.

Then he resumed his journey. The fox ate his full of the fish and jumped out of the cart.

A wolf saw him jumping out and asked him what he had been doing in it. The fox told him and also how he had got into it in the first place.

The wolf ran ahead of the cart and lay down in its path, pretending to be dead.

The cart man was delighted to find another animal to sell, but he found the animal too heavy to lift.

So he pushed it into a sack, tied the sack to his cart and dragged it away.

Moral: What works for one may not work for another.

Aesop stories - Defeated by Pride

Two roosters fought for supremacy in the farmyard.

Finally one was vanquished and he went and hid himself in a corner of the hen-house.

Defeated by Pride The victor flew up to the roof of the barn and begin to crow, “I’ve won, I’ve won!”

An eagle swooped down and carried him away and the rooster that had been defeated suddenly found himself unchallenged master of the farmyard.

Moral: The enemy is often defeated by his own pride.

Aesop stories - Boar with Foresight

A wild boar was rubbing his tusks against a tree.

A fox passing by asked him what he was doing.

"My tusks are my weapons," said the boar. "I'm sharpening them."

"Why waste time sharpening your weapons when there's no danger in sight?" said the fox. "You're being foolish."

Just then a hunter appeared on the scene.

Frightened by the boar's sharpened tusks, he turned on the fox instead and shot him dead.

Moral : Be prepared.

Aesop stories - A Cartload of Almonds

A squirrel joined the service of the King of the Forest, the lion.

He did whatever work was given to him, quickly and well. The lion became fond of him and promised to give him a cart full of almonds as pension when he retired.

The squirrel envied the other squirrels in the forest because of their carefree life. He longed to run up and down trees and leap from branch to branch like them but he could not leave the king's side and even if he could he had to move with courtly dignity.

He consoled himself with the thought that at the end of his career, he would receive a cart full of almonds, a food that few squirrels got to taste in their lifetime.

"They will envy me then," he would tell himself.

The years passed. The squirrel became old and then it was time for him to retire.

The king gave a grand banquet in his honor and at the end of it, presented him with a cart full of almonds as he had promised.

The squirrel had waited so long for this day but when he saw the almonds, he was seized with sadness.

He realized they were of no use to him now. He had lost all his teeth.