Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of India, there lived a man who had a strong, brawny Ox. The man was a proud one, always boasting about the strength of his Ox. "There's no Ox in this village, nor in the neighboring ones, that could rival the strength of my Ox," he would proudly declare to anyone who cared to listen.
One sunny day, a line of heavy wagons halted in the village, stuck due to the wet and muddy path ahead. Seeing the opportunity to prove his claim, the man boastfully offered the services of his Ox to move the wagons. All the villagers gathered around, eager to see the spectacle.
"Watch now!" he exclaimed, tying the Ox to the wagons. But to his shock, the Ox simply stood there, refusing to move a muscle. The man tugged, and yelled, and even whipped the Ox, but the beast stood still as a statue. The villagers laughed and jeered, and the man, now red with embarrassment, had to pay a forfeit for his failed boast.
That night, under the pale moonlight, the man sat with his Ox. His pride was bruised, and his pockets lighter. Feeling a twinge of regret for his actions, he softly stroked the Ox's thick hide, "I apologize for my arrogance and the hardship I caused you," he said. "From now on, I promise to treat you with kindness."
The very next day, the line of wagons was still stuck in the same spot. The villagers had lost hope of the wagons ever moving, but the man once again stepped forward. This time, he approached with humility rather than pride. He gently hitched his Ox to the wagons and softly whispered in the Ox's ear, "Could you help us, dear friend?"
To everyone's surprise, the Ox bent down, pulling with all his might. Slowly, the wagons began to budge, and before long, the line of wagons was moving! The villagers cheered, awed by the incredible strength of the Ox. The man, filled with joy and gratitude, thanked his Ox. In honor of his Ox's accomplishment, the owner of the wagons gifted the man a sum of money, far greater than the forfeit he had paid the previous day.
From that day forward, the man never boasted again, treating his Ox with nothing but kindness and respect. His pride was restored, but this time, it was the pride of a man who had learned humility, compassion, and the true strength of kindness.
Once upon a time, in a small village in India, there was a man with a very strong ox. The man was very proud and often talked about how strong his ox was. He would say to everyone, "There is no ox in this village or the next that is as strong as my ox!"
One sunny day, some heavy wagons got stuck in the village because of the muddy road. The man saw a chance to show off and offered his ox to help move the wagons. The villagers came to watch.
"Look at this!" he shouted as he connected the ox to the wagons. But to his surprise, the ox wouldn't move. Even though the man pulled, shouted, and even whipped the ox, it just stood there. The villagers laughed at him, and the man felt embarrassed and had to pay a penalty for his boast.
That night, under the moonlight, the man sat beside his ox feeling guilty and sorry. He gently stroked the ox and said, "I'm sorry for being so proud and making things hard for you. I promise to be kind from now on."
The next day, the wagons were still stuck. The man tried again, but this time he was respectful. He gently connected the ox to the wagons and quietly asked, "Could you help us, dear friend?"
To everyone's surprise, the ox started pulling hard. Slowly, the wagons moved, and soon they were rolling along. The villagers cheered for the ox’s strength. The man was very happy and thanked his ox warmly. The wagon owner was so impressed that he gave the man a lot of money, more than what he lost before.
From then on, the man never bragged again. He always treated his ox with kindness and respect, and he became known as a man with humility and an understanding of true strength.
In a small village, there is a man. The man has a big, strong ox. The man is very proud. He tells everyone, "My ox is very strong!"
One day, some heavy wagons get stuck. The road is very muddy. The man says, "My ox can help!" The people come to watch.
The man connects the ox to the wagons. He says, "Look at my ox!" But the ox does not move. The man pulls. The man shouts. The man even hits the ox. The ox just stands there. The people laugh. The man feels sad and sorry.
That night, the man sits with his ox. He says, "I am sorry. I will be kind to you."
The next day, the wagons are still stuck. The man tries again. This time, he is kind. He connects the ox to the wagons. He says, "Can you help us, friend?"
The ox starts to pull. The wagons move. The people cheer. The man is very happy. He thanks his ox. The wagon owner gives the man money.
From then on, the man is kind to his ox. He never shows off again.
Once upon a time, in a small village in India, there was a man with a very strong ox. The man was very proud and often talked about how strong his ox was. He would say to everyone, "There is no ox in this village or the next that is as strong as my ox!"
One sunny day, some heavy wagons got stuck in the village because of the muddy road. The man saw a chance to show off and offered his ox to help move the wagons. The villagers came to watch.
"Look at this!" he shouted as he connected the ox to the wagons. But to his surprise, the ox wouldn't move. Even though the man pulled, shouted, and even whipped the ox, it just stood there. The villagers laughed at him, and the man felt embarrassed and had to pay a penalty for his boast.
That night, under the moonlight, the man sat beside his ox feeling guilty and sorry. He gently stroked the ox and said, "I'm sorry for being so proud and making things hard for you. I promise to be kind from now on."
The next day, the wagons were still stuck. The man tried again, but this time he was respectful. He gently connected the ox to the wagons and quietly asked, "Could you help us, dear friend?"
To everyone's surprise, the ox started pulling hard. Slowly, the wagons moved, and soon they were rolling along. The villagers cheered for the ox’s strength. The man was very happy and thanked his ox warmly. The wagon owner was so impressed that he gave the man a lot of money, more than what he lost before.
From then on, the man never bragged again. He always treated his ox with kindness and respect, and he became known as a man with humility and an understanding of true strength.
Once upon a time, in a small village in India, there was a man with a very strong ox. The man took great pride in his ox and often boasted about its strength to anyone who would listen. He would proclaim, "There is no ox in this village or the next that is as strong as mine!"
One sunny day, some heavy wagons became stuck in the village due to the muddy roads. Seeing an opportunity to demonstrate his ox's power, the man offered its help to move the wagons. The villagers gathered to watch the spectacle.
"Watch this!" he shouted as he hitched his ox to the wagons. To his astonishment, the ox did not budge. Despite the man's efforts—pulling, shouting, and even whipping—the ox remained still. The villagers laughed at him, and the man felt deeply embarrassed, having to pay a penalty for his empty boasting.
That night, under the gentle glow of the moon, the man sat beside his ox, feeling remorseful and ashamed. He softly stroked the ox's fur and said, "I am sorry for being so proud and for making things difficult for you. I promise to treat you with kindness from now on."
The next day, the wagons were still stuck. The man decided to try again, but this time he approached the task with respect. He gently hitched the ox to the wagons and quietly asked, "Could you help us, dear friend?"
To everyone's amazement, the ox began to pull with great effort. Slowly but surely, the wagons started to move, and soon they were rolling freely. The villagers cheered for the ox’s remarkable strength. The man was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude to his ox warmly. The wagon owner, impressed by the ox's performance, rewarded the man with a substantial amount of money, even more than what he had lost before.
From that day forward, the man never boasted again. He always treated his ox with kindness and respect, earning a reputation as a man of humility who understood the true meaning of strength.
Once upon a time in the most happening village in all of India, there was this man with an Ox. This wasn't just your run-of-the-mill Ox, oh no, this Ox was like the strongest superhero you could imagine. And the man? Imagine him as a cheerleader on a sugar high, always going, "Look at my Ox! My Ox could lift a mountain, easy!"
Then, right on cue, a caravan of wagons rolls into town. But they're stuck! Why? Mud. The sort of gooey, squelchy mud that traps everything like glue.
The man thinks, "This is it. Time for my Ox to flex those muscles!" And so, he says, "Make way, folks! Get ready for the greatest feat of strength you'll ever see!"
Everyone's eyes are glued to them. The man attaches the Ox to the wagons and yells, "Showtime!" But the Ox just freezes, like a statue. "Move, buddy! You're stealing my thunder here," the man tries to coax, pulling and even poking the Ox. Nothing happens. Not a twitch.
The crowd? They can barely contain themselves. They laugh so hard it's like they're at a comedy show. The man goes red as a tomato—so red he had to pay a fine for his overly grand claims.
That evening, it's just the man and his Ox, under a moon that's showing off all its curves. The man's ego has hit rock bottom. "Sorry, my friend, I got carried away there. No more antics from me, I promise," he says, patting the Ox gently.
Next day, same wagons, same sticky situation. Everyone has given up hope. Except our man. This time, he walks up with a change of heart. He whispers to his Ox, "Could you help us out, old pal?"
Would you believe it—the Ox starts pulling! The wagons move as if they have wings! People are clapping, jumping, you'd think they're at a festival!
The wagon owner is so grateful, he hands the man a generous amount of money—way more than the fine he had to cough up the previous day.
From that moment on, the man is a new person. No more bragging, no more showmanship. Just good old kindness and an endless supply of treats for his Ox. He had learned the real treasure in life: humility, compassion, and the sheer power of kindness. And that's how he and his Ox lived happily, and wisely, ever after.
Strong and sturdy stood an Ox,
With a man who'd often talk and talk.
"None can match my Ox, so grand,"
He'd tell folks all across the land.
Heavy wagons came one day,
Stuck in mud, they couldn't make their way.
"Stand aside," the man did cheer,
"I’ll show you all why my Ox is peer!"
He tied the Ox, and yelled "Let's go!"
But the Ox thought, "This is not the way, you know."
Despite the whip, despite the shout,
The Ox stood still, not moving, not a single bout.
Laughter echoed, jeers were thrown,
The man felt small, his cover blown.
Fees were paid, his pockets light,
His pride was gone, slipped into night.
Under moon's soft, glowing beam,
Man told Ox, "I've been quite mean."
"Forgive my ways, so harsh and rude,
Kindness now will be my mood."
Next day came, the wagons stuck,
Villagers said, "We're out of luck."
But the man knew what to do,
He asked his Ox, his spirit new.
"Could you help us, dear old friend?"
The Ox felt love, he’d help them mend.
He pulled and tugged with all his might,
The wagons moved, oh what a sight!
Cheers erupted, praises flew,
For the Ox and humble man, the villagers knew.
Gifts were given, gratitude shown,
This pair, their worth was fully known.
From that day, the man was changed,
Kindness in his heart arranged.
He and Ox lived side by side,
In strength and gentle love, they'd always confide.
Feeling very good about something achieved.
Talk about something with too much pride.
Feeling shy or uncomfortable because of a mistake.
A punishment or loss for doing something wrong.
Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
Showing honor and kindness to others.
An unexpected or shocking event or reaction.
Shouted to show happiness or support.
The ability to do something physically difficult.
Being humble and not thinking you are better than others.
Feeling very good about something achieved.
Talk about something with too much pride.
Feeling shy or uncomfortable because of a mistake.
A punishment or loss for doing something wrong.
Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
Showing honor and kindness to others.
An unexpected or shocking event or reaction.
Shouted to show happiness or support.
The ability to do something physically difficult.
Being humble and not thinking you are better than others.
Where does the man live?
What does the man have?
Why do the people laugh at the man?
What does the man do the next day to get the ox to move the wagons?
What happens at the end of the story?
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Enjoy 25 selected fables for life, in print. Every purchase supports free stories for children, parents, and teachers worldwide at fablereads.com
Get Your Book
