THE OWL AND THE GRASSHOPPER
Once there lived an old owl. The old owl sleeps during the day. After the sun is down and rosy light fades from the sky, the shadows rise slowly through the wood. The old owl comes ruffling and blinking from the old hollow tree.
The old owls hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo echoes through the quiet woods. She starts her hunting. She likes to eat bugs, mice, beetles and frogs. She then visits her friends in the nearby woods chats with them and stays awake throughout the night. When the dawn breaks the old owl flies back to her old hallow tree. She likes to sleep peacefully throughout the day and doesn’t like to be disturbed. This was her daily schedule.
One warm summer afternoon as she dozed away in her den in the old oak tree, a Grasshopper nearby began a joyous but very raspy song. Hearing this the old Owl was disturbed from her slumber and popped her head out from the hallow trunk which served both as a window and door.
“Please get away from here dear sir”, said the Owl. She also added “Have you no manners? You should at least respect my age and leave me to sleep in quiet!”
The Grasshopper answered very coolly that he had rights to his place in the sun as much as the owl had its place in the tree. Then the Grasshopper struck up a louder and still more rasping tune, which irritated the owl very much.
The wise old Owl now devised a plan as it was useless to give any more warnings to the Grasshopper. Besides her eyes were not sharp enough to punish the grasshopper as he deserved. So she laid aside all hard words and spoke very kindly to him.
She said, “Well sir, if I must stay awake and enjoy your fabulous singing, then I have a wine sent down to me by my friend, who is a great singer just like you”. Saying these flattery words, She invited Grasshopper to her home to have the wine with her and party all day.
The Grasshopper was flattered on hearing the praises about his singing. He thought that it was a great occasion to have wine. He totally forgot that owls prey on insects. After visiting Owl's home for wine, he wanted to pass on the message to other Grasshoppers who were great singers like him.
The Owl was waiting for the Grasshopper to come to his home and gobble him as soon as he came closer. The grasshopper came to the hollow tree trunk. As he entered her home, he saw leftovers of insects everywhere.
The Grasshopper knew at once that it was part of Owl’s plan to invite him for wine and gobble him. The Owl was eagerly waiting to get hold of the Grasshopper. As the grasshopper stepped inside the hallow trunk the Owl caught him and gobbled him victoriously. The Owl had a nice mid-day snack. she gobbled Grasshoppers every now and then, who disturbed her sleep.
Moral of the story:
Flattery is not a proof of true admiration.
The Four Pals
Four best friends live in a famine-stricken village. Three of them are incredibly intelligent and learned people who regard their friend Shivanand as a sluggish but practical fool.
The four decide to travel to Manasa, which is known as a scholar's refuge. They must pass through a forest on their way. They come upon lion bones there. Satyanand intends to demonstrate his expertise by reproducing the lion's skeleton. The lion's muscles and structure are rebuilt by the other companion. Vidyanand then wishes to demonstrate his superiority by breathing life into the lion.
Shivanand tries to stop them and informs them of the ramifications of their actions. They, however, do not stop. Before Vidyanand can carry out his plans, Shivanand climbs a tree. The lion awakens and devours the three learned fools.
Shivanand is saved by his practical temperament.
Moral: It is preferable to be practical rather than academic.
Short stories are a great way for kids to build important skills. If you like these stories you are sure to like our motivational posters for kids. Do take a look
