MORALS

6 LESSONS FOR BETTER LIFE

LESSON 1 - HEALTH IS WEALTH)

Keshav :Good evening, Vinod, "Where is your friend Neeraj? Are you waiting for him?"

Vinod : Good evening. He is at home. I am not waiting for him. He is sick.

Keshav : Yesterday, I saw him playing cricket in our school playground. Vinod : Is he not a good player?

Keshav : Heis. He can play cricket as well as Sanjay and can run as fast as Manoj.

Vinod : That's right. He was quite well yesterday, but today he is suffering from fever.

Keshav : is he taking medicine?

Vinod : Yes, he is.

Keshav : Does he clean his teeth and wash his hands and face every morning?

Vinod : No, he does not clean his teeth every morning, but I have seen him washing his hands and face daily.

Keshav : That is a bad habit. He must clean his teeth daily. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Vinod : Yes, my father told me a lot about cleanliness. Many germs enter our bodies with dirty air, water and food. The germs of cholera get into a man's body with his food and water.

Keshav : Did your father also tell you about malaria? I want to know about the germs of malaria.

Vinod : malaria. Yes, my father told us that the germs of malaria live in the body of a mosquito. When this mosquito bites a healthy person, the germs of malaria enter his body.

Keshav : See! A fly is sitting on your shirt. It is harmful thing. It places the germs of cholera into our food and drink. Can we avoid ourselves from germs?

Vinod : Yes, we must keep everything clean. We must take bath everyday and wear clean clothes. We must keep the drains of our house clean. We should never throw rubbish on the streets. Drink clean water and use fresh food only. Don't allow dirt and flies to sit on your food-stuff. They carry germs in their hairy legs.

Keshav : I'm glad to know about these rules. They are easy to follow. Come with me. I want to see Neeraj.

Vinod : O.K. Let us go. We've been talking for a long time.

Keshav: Yes, it is now five o'clock. Who is looking after Neeraj?

Vinod : His mother is looking after him. She went to the hospital to see him doctor. She also bought his medicines from the chemist. She did all this as quickly as possible.

Keshav : Who will bring Neeraj's milk and fruit now?

Vinod : We will take them with us.

Keshav : That's right. Come, let's go.

(Moral - if health will lost all things will last.)

(LESSON 2 - FRIEND IS THE GOD GIFT)

At the corner of one small village there lived a peasant called Kizhavan. He was very poor and had no relatives, not even distant relatives. But Kizhavan did not grieve. He had many friends amongst the inhabitants of the forest, amongst animals and birds. And he who has got a lot of friends, can't be lonely. Kizhavan knew the languages of animals and the birds quite well. If he met someone from the forest, he would talk to it. Then his heart would become happy. Birds, having caught sight of Kizhavan, always welcomed him by their joyful singing, Once he was very hungry, but there was nothing to eat in the house. So Kishavan took a stick and went to the forest. For sometime he was wandering here and there, but did not find anything and decided to turn back to the house.

"Please help me!" Suddenly he heard a voice. Kizhavan

turned back and saw a ruffled up pigeon.

"I cannot fly: Rescue me!" The pigeon asked with helplessness in its voice. Kizhavan felt pity for the defenseless pigeon. He lifted it up from the ground, tenderly pressed it to his heart and continued walking along his way At home Kizhavan cautiously put the bird on his bed. "You will live with me until you have regained your health. Don't be afraid, I won't allow anyone to hurt you. I will protect you and you with everything than can des The problem ily is it then do love any al and Iran's feed you. There is almuhisely nothing in my house now" said Kabavan in a D pigen consoled ham. In the forest there is a bag mango os

Jos hollow liner Gs there and take the rice Kielivan, without delay, went to the forest in search of that mange tree. He went this way, then that c but he dele's find that tree anywhere. At the eud Korhaven Become very ured He sat down on a all hill rest. And when he looked up he ww the mango tree standing directly before him. Kishavan looked into the hollow of the tree and discovered that there was handful of rice in it. Around this nice there were many sparkling and shining diamonds and other gemstones Kohavan looked at this treasure without any interest

These stones are useless for me! In

fart 1 am not going to decorato myself with them," he said to himself. So, having taken only that handful of rice, he returned to his house and at the threshold he saw a second pigeon. As soon as Kizhavan opened his door the geon flew inside and sat near its sick friend. The two birds started to talk to each other joyfully. Kizhavangave all the nice to both of them. While they ate it all, he admired the two birds. Why, in fact, there was not much rice. It was only enough for you. Anyhow, I shall survive, 1

won't die so easily," answered Kizhavan. The pigeon then went out of his house and soon returned, bearing something in its beak. It appeared to be golden ring Take this ring and wear it on your finger. As long as you won't take it off, you will have everything that you wish from," said the pigeon to Kishavan.

"Is that true? Then I thank you," said Kizhavan. "I only want to have some bread and milk, and nothing more." In no time appeared on his table a small plate with fresh, nice smelling bread and a cup of milk. Kizhavan then drank some milk, ate a slice of bread, and the rest he gave to pigeons After that, Kizhavan lived happily.

Everything that is necessary for life he got by virtue of the magic power of the ring, the gift of This friend, the pigeon.

(Moral - Always be gentle)

(LESSON 3 - BE CARING)

Jully pedalled her bicycle swiftly as mother trotted alongside her. Mother had to hurry keep up with fully. They were on their way to the park for their weekly ouring fully's big blue bag with pink pockets was slung over mother's shoulder. It held many of Jully's favourite things that she used to create wonderful pictures that mother would fasten to the refrigerator door for everyone to see. Wonderful things were a part of these trips, wonderful sunshine, wonderful breezes, wonderful colours and most importantly,

the big wonderful silver slide.

Jully was as happy as she could be today. The pink

ribbon from her yellow pig-tails flew in the breeze behind her. Today, Jully felt more special than ever. Mother let her wear her new shorts outfit with the blue and pink flowers Jully promised to be careful not to spoil it. Jully loved mother and always tried to make her proud. She wanted to be just like her when she grew up. Being outside today was like

being in a beautiful dream of many colours. The windy sunshine was the yellowest of yellows. It flooded Jully's smiling blue eyes and pink face as she Alooked at everything there was to see.

A tall, green Elm bowed its head to Jully and her mother as they passed. Several feet away, two young

boys and a red, curly haired girl tossed a big green and white striped beach ball back and forth. The ball had just gone over the head of one of the boys. He scampered to get it before the red haired girl. Their happy yelps rode on the wind to Jully's ears. They only made Jully feel happier.

Jully found the slightly off-key tunes of the ice cream truck a special treat today. The truck was parked at the far side of the park's edge. Two teenagers dressed in white with tennis rackers raced to get ice cream and cold drinks.

Everything was wonderful today, even the birds sounded cheener than ever. They whistled from nearby trees.

Jully's bicycle barely stopped as she jumped off. They had arrived at the special place in the park where the giant silver slide lived. Jully loved the studer she got a shavery joy each time she slipped along its long slender back. She ran over to the slide

low down, Jully, shouted her mother, smiling at her young daughter

Barbara enjoyed these ounings as much as Jully. She loved to just relax and visit with the other woman she would meet there. They would share stories about their children. When she felt like it, Barbara tucked her knitting or an interesting novel into Jully's bag, She felt a little tired from her brisk jaunt and plopped down at the nearest picnic table. Soon Carol, one of her friends, wandered over to her.

Jully watched her mother and the other woman. Jully liked it when her mother charted or visited

with other woman. It gave her extra long playtime

The slide was cold today, but this did not stop Jully from whisking down its bare back. The cold

metal sent shivers of fun through her. Easter and faster she slide each time she climbed the

endless steps. Up, up, up she went eager to swoosh along the cold, silver slide. Jully loved to

daydream while she rode on the slide. She would close her eyes and think of herself as a lovely

princess on a white horse. Some days, she would pretend that she was either a lost puppy or a lost

kitten looking for its mother. She would crawl around while the meowed or whimpered sadly

Jully had heard her mother say that she

had a good imagination. She wasn't

really sure what this meant. She

guessed that it meant that the was

really great at pretending things

Jully continued her trips up the stairs and down the slide. On what was may be her twelfth trip, a strange sound shot into the air. It was a very painful groan. "What's that?" she asked, jumping off the end of the slide.

"Oh, thank you!" came the answer over her shoulder. "Who said that?" Jully

asked again, looking round and round.

"I did."

ally bent at the waist, jumped to one toot and spun around. She was staring night at the side

Two very, very sad eyes stated back at her. Thank you for getting off" and a giant mouth ju below the teary eves "My back aches really badly today." Jully rubbed her eyes. Was this really happening? Could she

believe her cars? Quickly, she looked over to where her mother sat with her friend. The ra

women were laughing and talking Everything seemed okay. Jully looked back at the sle

"Excuse me", she said, "Did you speak to me?"

"Why yes did," answered the silver slide. "I'm sorry if I started you, but I can't take anyre Each and everyday children jump on me and race down my back. It was fine when I was w but I've grown so old and weary. I'm not nearly as strong and in the great shape I used to be 1 love the children, especially you Jully, but shudder when they dig their feet into my back. What can I do? Can you help me, Jully? With that, the poor old slide began to cry loudly. His steps shook with each large, wet tean He pulled a large white handkerchief from his back step and blew his nose sadly "If this keeps up, I will have to be turned in a pile of steel and thrown onto

the junk heap. I know all I need is a little rest. In time I will be okay. The park is putting in a new shde soon. Guess until then, I will have to be brave."

Jully stepped back as she was It took her long minutes to understand. This poor old slide that had given so many children so much fun over the years was asking her for help. She felt sad and important all at

I'm sooooo sorry you are feeling bad," she heard het small voice say. Her tiny

hand gently patted the aching steel. "There must be something I

Jan do" Jully thought and thought for some time. She walked to a swing and started to sit down, at stopped. She then started to go to her mother for help, but again stopped. "Would mother elieve her?" Jully wondered aloud. "A talking slide?" Jully did not know what to do to help her

friend

As she returned to the slide, Jully saw two workmen fixing one of the park benches. The workman dressed in grey coveralls nailed a brand new wooden arm to the bench. The second Workman, who wore a white cap, took brushes and two cans from the back of his truck. Jully

watched. He dipped his brash in one can of paint and stroked the wooden arm. Jully saw the green paint go on the arm and cover the wood. It looked new and shiny. People would have to wait to a couple of days to sit on that bench she thought.

Suddenly her face lit up. She raced to her bicycle. "I've got it," she yelled. She grabbed for her big blue bag that was slung ever the handlebars of her bicycle. Quickly, she shifted through it. She loved thus bag, it had all of her favourite things. Jully pulled out a big, far red crayon. She then

snatched up a yellow sheet of drawing paper. Before a bird could eat a worm, she knelt and scribbled something on the paper. With that, she grabbed once more into the bag and was off in a race to her weary,

waiting friend. "I have just the thing," she called to him, as she got nearer. The slide looked so unhappy. His big tears had made quite a large pool at his feet. Jully leaned over him. Her little hands worked quickly. She tucked and taped and finished. "There", she said, as she stepped back to see her work. Nor too bad! This will work! Jully felt all warm and soft and good inside like she did when mother hugged her. Just then she heard her mother's call that it was time to go home. "Don't worry, now you can get the rest you need to feel better." Jully called over her shoulder to the slide as she ran happily off to her mother, Jully waved arms to her mother. Barbara had been picking up the blue

bag with its scattered crayons while she waited for her young

happy daughter. She wondered why all the crayons were

on the ground in such a hurried mess.

"What went on here?" she asked her

daughter. "A good thing," answered Jully, hugging her mother. Jully felt proud and happy Mother would have been proud of her too. Jully wanted to walk her bicycle home so she could think about her special day and how she had made the slide happy. She really had done a good thing.

D

Mother and daughter left the park, arms around each other. They passed a bench where mother sat holding her young son. The little boy seemed very sad. He asked his mother, "But Mummy, why can't I go on the slide?" jully heard his mother's answer, "You must stay off the slide for a few days, honey, the sign says WET PAINT." Jully smiled her biggest smile and hugged mother tighter.

(Moral - We take care of the things we have)

(LESSON 4 - BE CONFIDENT)

Once upon a time, a very beautiful country in Europe was under the cruel rule of the Duke of Austria. Its name was Switzerland. The Austrians cruelly opposed the Swiss. In the market square, the Duke's hat was put up on a long pole. A number of Austrian soldiers stood there Everyone who passed by had to salute the Duke's hat.

In those days, there was a very brave man living in Switzerland. He was a very good bowman and a very skillful sailor. His name was William Tell. One day William Tell was walking to the market square with his son who was ten years old. Suddenly a soldier caught him by the arm. The soldier said angrily, "Salute". Immediately Tell was surrounded by a crowd. "I haven't done any thing wrong."Tell said, facing the soldiers calmly. The soldier said, "But you did not salute the Duke's hat." "Come now and salute it."

William Tell refused and said, "Why should I bow before an empty hat at the end of the pole?"

The soldiers got angry and took him to the Governor of the town. The Governor was an Austrian whose name was Gessler and a cruel tyrant.

"This man refuses to salute the Duke's hat," said the soldiers to the Governor. "The Governor ordered the soldiers to tie William Tell's son to tree at some distance and an apple was placed on his head.

"What is this for?" asked William Tell.

"I have come to know you are a very skilled bowman," replied Gessler. "I want to see you shoot. If at this distance you can shoot an arrow and split the apple, I will give you your life. If you miss or refuse to shoot, you die!"

Wilham Tell's eyes flashed with anger.

He said, "Give me the bow." He took out the arrows from his quiver and stuck one in his belt. He then raised this head and took aim. Twang! The arrow shot forward and split the apple in two parts. The next moment, the people looked the apple fall, one piece on either side.

"Hurrah!" they shouted. Gessler said, "That was a good shot, traitor," "But tell me this. You took two arrows, and stuck one in your belt. What was the second one for?" "I had it ready for you, cruel tyrant," replied Tell, "If missed my aim with the first!" Gessler

said, "That is a traitor speaking," "I have promised not to murder you and I will keep my promise. But you will spend the rest of your life in prison." "The Governor's ship was lying in the lake nearby. William Tell was put in chains and taken to the ship. The ship set sail and began to cross the lake, but a storm broke out and blew it off its course. The

Governor's party was in great danger. Then they remembered that William Tell was the most

skilful sailor in those parts and they spoke to Gessler.

The Governor replied, "Take off his chains and let him try to bring the ship back on its course." (William Tell quickly brought the ship under control; but instead of trying to cross the lake, he turned the ship round and sailed back towards the shore Tell, who now thought only of freedom, brought the ship to a rock stuck out into the lake The next moment, the Austrians saw him jump on to the rock and run out of sight. William Tell thought, "Let them save themselves if they can."

(Moral - Always have confidence on your skills.)

LESSON 5 - DON'T BE GREEDY)

Once upon a time, there lived an old tiger. Dur to his old age, he became so weak he could not go out to hunt. His condition was so bad that he was on the verge of starving to death. He was neither able to see in the dark nor could he run fast. Thus, he became sotally incapable of hunting Once the tiger had heard someone to speak in a gathering from a fairly far away distance. The speaker was talking about the human nature. He said that no wonder the human beings are intelligent but they are very greedy too. Therefore, they can be easily trapped and cheated Then one day the tiger set out on his journey towards the nearby village, wearing a gold chain around his neck and bangle in his hand. He

sat near a pond very carefully. He had decided to catch hold of a two-legged creature (man) and not the four-legged animal

After a pretty long wait, the tiger finally spotted a man passing by. He called out to that man and said, "I have with me gold bangle. You appear to be a poor man and so I wish to give this bangle to you. This will fit you well and also will be of great help to you." Saying this, the diger threw the bangle towards the man. And then the man picked up the bangle thrown by the tiger. He started examining it and was surprised to find it made of pure gold. He sold that bangle and carned a respectable amount out of it. He thought to himself, "Has this ter gone mad? Does anyone on Earth give away a

valuable like gold for free?" The next day, the same man came to visit the tiger. This time he had crite with an intention. Watching him from a distance the tiger welcomed him. However, the niger whol taking out hin chain off his neck deliberately tore it off. The beads spilled on the ground. "Oh! I am sorry, dear friend, apologized the ger, I have spoiled your present." This nun was very greedy. He suddenly said. "Tiger uncle you appear to be very decent and caring. So please don't pick up the faller beads. I shall, myself, pick them up there from No sooner did the man get down in the mud to pick the gold beads, the tiger pouched upon him and killed him. It is truly said that the activities that are dangerous for us are avoided.

(Moral - Greed leads to dawnfall)

(LESSON 6 - BE BOLD)

Mr. Joseph was a very nch man and could have almost anything he wanted. However, he was not very happy in spite of his wealth. "I wish my Mac were a bit smart," Mr. Joseph would say to himself. Mr. Joseph had an eight years old son. He was everything to him, and on him he lavished love and affection and everything that money could buy, Bur Mac was Very slow to learn and understand what was taught to him and it required much patience, time and effort on the part of his mother and teachers to teach him. So Mac had no friends and felt quite left our when he saw other boys and girls in groups talking and laughing. together and having fun. He did not belong to them and this made him very sad.

"I also would like to have friends, why does no one like me?" Mac would often ask his mother Not far from Mr. Joseph's house lived Peter. His father had died in an accident when he was very young. His mother Tinkle had to work very hard to earn a living. Most of the time he was on his own. He played on the streets after school and was very good in sports. His mother saw to it that his homework and lessons were completed after she returned from work each day. Being an intelligent child he did not take long to complete his work. His mother doted on him and longed to give him the type of clothes and toys the other children received. "If only I could give Peter some better clothes and toys, he would be happy," said Tinkle to herself. It made her glad to see the sparkle in his eyes and gratitude when she gave him a gift, but she could not afford this often as she could barely manage to pay for food, clothing and school necessities, Tinkle spent all her leave and holidays in teaching Peter, telling him stories and reading to him gond books from the school library

Mac and Peter attended the same neighbourhood school Children."said the Principal one day I want all the students to take part in the sports competitions." Sports Day came and there was very much excitement

The school had managed to get many sponsors and there were many prizes and gifts for all the events in addition to the cups and medals.

All the students were excited to participate in them.

"As one event followed another, the students cheered, encouraging their favourite competitors."

"Come on Manthan, run faster," his friends shouted, "Neil, Neil, try harder, shouted some others.

The parents also took a keen interest. They were almost as excited as the children, and had turned up in a large number.

It was now the turn of the younger children. Mac and Peter were in the same age group. Mr Joseph was hoping desperately that Mac would not finish last. They had coaxed Mac to participate against his will. "Mac, you must take part in this race," his parents had urged him, "Do make us happy."

They knew that this was the 200 m race and Mac would not be able to get very far. Peter was agile and fleet of foot and he was almost certain to carry away almost all the prizes in his age groep. The race began. Peter was into his rhythm and away. He had almost completed the race when he saw Mac badly sprawled on the ground. He boldly stopped to help him up. In doing so he lost valuable time and missed even the third place and thus any prize. "Who is the child?" said Mr. Joseph.

He could not believe that a child who was coming first could give up his

chance in order to help a mere unfortunate child. He made inquiries and fus

admiration for Peter increased

when he learnt of his

poor circumstances.

"Who is at the door?"

Tinkle asked Peter

the next day, when

she was cooking

food She was

surprised to see Mr.

and Mrs. Joseph. They

told Tinkle how much

Peter had impressed them

with his noble deed and

boldness

"You have a good son. If you

agree, we will sponsor Peter

paying all expenses for his food, clothing and

education till he completes his studies and secures a good job."

Tinkle was ecstatic. Her prayers had been answered. She gratefully accepted the offer and thanked the Lord for His blessings.

Moral - A good deed is always awarded