The three cows
There was a green and fresh pasture, in which three cows lived, a
white cow, a black cow and a reddish-brown one. The cows were kind to
one another. They used to graze in the meadow together and they used to
sleep near each other. One day the reddish-brown coloured lion of the
forest happened to pass that way. The lion was unhappy. It was hungry
and was looking for a prey. On catching sight of the cows it became
glad, but couldn't attack them, because they were together. So, the lion
sat in a corner and waited till the cows would separate from one
another.
The cows were together and wouldn't part from each other, because
they knew that if they were together, no predator could attack them. The
lion lay in ambush nearby for two or three days. But the cows continued
to remain together, and wouldn't separate from one another. The lion
became unhappy.
A plan occurred to it. It went towards the cows, greeted them and
said: "How are you my friends?" Are you fine? I have been remembering
you for a long time, but because I am too busy, I can't come to you and
ask about your health.
Today I said to myself: "Anyhow I should come and see you from near
and visit you." The reddish-brown cow said: "Sir, your coming has really
pleased us and brightened our pasture."
The lion said: "I have always remembered you, and have even ordered a
better pasture made ready for you." Reddish-brown cow said: "Sir, you
have really obliged us and we are very thankful to you."
Both the white and the black cows were troubled by what their friend,
the reddish-brown cow said, and were grieved at its thoughtlessness.
They feared lest it should be deceived.
They said to one another: Which forest has not got a better pasture?
Why does the reddish-brown cow believe what the lion says? Doesn't it
know that lions seek other animals only to prey on them?
The reddish-brown cow became more and more a close friend of the lion
each day. The black cow and the white cow advised it as much as they
could, but with no avail.
One day the lion said to the reddish-brown cow: "You know that the
colour of our bodies is dark and that the colour of the body of the
white cow is light, and you also know that the light colour is the
opposite of the dark colour. It would be very good if I eat the white
cow, so that there will be no difference among us any longer and that we
will be able to live together well."
The reddish-brown cow accepted the saying of the selfish lion and
started talking to the black cow to keep it busy, so that the lion could
eat the white cow with more ease. The white cow was left alone and was
killed, while the black and the reddish-brown cows were busy with idle
talk.
Two or three days passed since the lion had devoured the white cow.
The lion, angry and uneasy, was lying in a corner, and the reddish-brown
cow was moving around the lion and grazing. The lion called the
reddish-brown cow. The cow answered: "Yes Sir!" The lion said: "The
colour of my body and the colour of your body are reddish-brown, and
black does not go with our colour. It will be very good if I eat the
black cow, so that in this forest we all will be of the same colour."
The reddish-brown cow accepted and moved away from the black cow.
The lion attacked and devoured the black cow, too. And as for the
reddish-brown cow, it was so filled with joy that it didn't know what to
do. It roamed and grazed and said to itself: "It is only me who has the
colour of the lion..." A few days passed since the black cow had been
devoured by the lion. The lion roared and said. "O the reddish-brown
cow! Where are you?"
The reddish-brown cow, shaking with fear, went forward and said: "Yes
Sir!" The lion said: "Today it is your turn, get yourself ready, I am
going to eat you." The reddish-brown cow, with great fear and horror
said: "Why Sir, I am your friend. I did whatever you said. So why do you
want to eat me?" The lion roared and said: "Friend of a friendless!" How
is it possible that a lion makes friendship with a cow? No matter how
much the reddish-brown cow begged and entreated, the lion didn't accept
its words. The lion attacked the cow.
The cow said: "Mr. Lion, please allow me to cry out three times
before you eat me."
The lion said: "Quickly, quickly!" The reddish-brown cow cried out:
"I was eaten the very day the white cow was eaten. I was eaten the very
day the black cow was eaten. I was eaten the very day I made.... with
you."
The lion devoured the reddish-brown cow very quickly. Then it said to
itself: "I have finished my job in this forest. Now I had better go to
other forests."
-Internet |