The Tale of the Bull and the Donkey
Traditional | Middle East
A merchant overhears his bull and donkey's plan to avoid work, teaches them a lesson, and they resume their duties.
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Once upon a time, there was a special merchant. This merchant could understand the language of animals. This skill helped him know what his animals were talking about. On his farm, he had a hardworking bull and a smart donkey. The bull plowed the fields, and the donkey carried goods to the market.
One day, while the bull and the donkey were eating in the garden, they started talking. The bull, tired from a long day of work, sighed and said, "You have an easy life, my friend. You only carry light loads, but I work hard all day in the fields. My food is the same as yours, and my stable smells bad."
The donkey felt sorry for the bull and replied, "You are right. You work harder than I do. But why don't you pretend to be sick? When the farmer comes to take you to the fields, just lie down and don' get up. Make noises as if you are in pain, and he will think you are too sick to work. You can rest for a few days."
The bull thanked the donkey for the advice and decided to try the plan. The merchant, who was nearby, heard their entire conversation. He hid behind a big tree to listen. He understood their plan and decided to teach them a lesson.
The next morning, when the farmer came to take the bull to the fields, the bull lay on the ground, making noises and pretending to be very sick. The farmer was worried and said, "Oh no, my poor bull is sick! He cannot work today. He needs to rest."
The farmer went to the merchant and explained the situation. "Sir," he said, "the bull is very sick and cannot work today. What should I do?"
The merchant, knowing what was happening, replied, "Take the donkey instead. Let the donkey work with the plow in the fields today."
The farmer was surprised but did as he was told. He went to the donkey and said, "Since the bull is sick, you must go to the fields and plow today." The donkey was unhappy but had no choice. He spent the whole day working hard under the hot sun, plowing the fields.
That evening, the donkey returned home very tired. The bull, feeling much better after a day of rest, greeted the donkey cheerfully. "How was your day, my friend?" asked the bull.
The donkey, tired and sore, replied, "It was terrible! I had to work very hard, and now I am very tired. The farmer was not happy with my work and was very angry. He even said he might sell you to a butcher if you pretend to be sick again. You should not pretend anymore."
The bull felt sorry for the donkey and decided to return to work the next day. He realized that it was better to do his share of work rather than avoid it. The merchant, who had heard this conversation too, smiled and thought that the donkey had learned his lesson.
The next morning, the bull got up early and went to the fields with the farmer. The donkey went back to his usual job of carrying goods to the market. From that day on, the bull and the donkey continued to live on the farm, each doing their part and helping the merchant and the farmer. They remained friends and never tried to trick their master again.
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