Folktales

The Man and the Dog

Once there was an old dog who had served his master faithfully for many years. He had been his companion in good as will as in hard times.

One day, when the master was talking to his wife, the dog heard him remark that he would kill him the following morning, because he was old and was of no use to him. When the dog heard this, he felt very sorry for he would be killed the following morning.

He went to the forest and told his friend the monkey, the sad news that he had heard from his master. The monkey thought a plan by which he could save his friend from his sad fate.

After thinking for a short time, he exclaimed: “I have plan, your master with his wife will go to the field tomorrow to oversee their harvest. They will take their child with them, but they will leave him under a tree, I shall take the child away.”

“When you see me, run after me, I shall drop the child, you will pick it up and return it to the mother. When your master sees you saving his child, then he will not kill you, but instead, he will keep you in good condition until your natural death comes.” This plan pleased the old dog.

In the morning everything was done according to the plan of the monkey. His master was very well pleased to see his child brought back by his old dog.

He patted him and said: “You will never suffer any bad treatment from me. You will eat our own food, and you will have a mat and a pillow, instead of the bad smelling stable for your bed.”

The dog thanked his friend, the monkey, for his plan. He lived happy and contented the rest of his life.