Page 55 - English Class 04
P. 55
Once, there was a farmer who suffered
much at the hands of a cunning money-
lender. Good harvest or bad harvest,
the farmer was always poor and
the moneylender, rich. At last,
when he hadn’t a farthing
left, the farmer went to the
moneylender’s house and
said, “You can’t squeeze
water from a stone, and as
you have nothing to get
from me now, you might tell
me the secret of becoming
rich.”
“My friend,” replied the
moneylender piously ,
“Riches come from Ram.
Ask Him.”
Do you lend some money to your friends to help them?
“Thank you, I will!” replied the simple farmer;
farthing : the least possible
so he prepared three girdle-cakes to last him on amount of anything
the journey and set out to find Ram. piously : devotedly, religiously
First, he met a Brahmin and he gave a cake to him, asking him to point out
the road to Ram; but the Brahmin only took the cake and went on his way
without a word. Next, the farmer met a Jogi or devotee and he gave a cake to
him, without receiving any help in return. At last, he came upon a poor man
sitting under a tree and finding out he was hungry, the kind farmer gave him his
last cake and sitting down to rest beside him, entered into conversation.
“And where are you going?” asked the poor man, at length.
“Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!” replied the
farmer. “I don’t suppose you could tell me which way to go?”
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