Stories For Life | Food For Thought

  The Hungry Beggar One day a hungry beggar went to a farmer's house to beg for something to eat. By the time the beggar went there the farmer's wife had already prepared lunch and was waiting for her husband to come home. The farmer's little children were playing in front of the house. The farmer arrived and his little children hugged him. The farmer's wife greeted him with a bountiful of smile.  The beggar on his way back home with the parcel of food the farmer's wife offered him thought , "Is this life? The farmer leads a happy life with his children and wife. He has a beautiful house. He has a plenty of food to eat. He must be the happiest person in this village."   Meanwhile, the farmer while having his lunch told his wife," We cannot manage our fields unless we have some more money. The cost of labour is very high. I'll go to the village headman's house and ask him if he could lend me some money."  That evening the farmer visited th...

  A King's Last Joke   Once there lived a king by the name Yasalalaka Thissa in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. He had a gate-keeper whose name was Subha. The king and his gate-keeper were alike in appearance.  King Yasalalaka Thissa was very fond of playing practical jokes on others. One morning, the king called Subha to his chamber before the courtiers came. The king told Subha, " Let's exchange our clothes. You wear my royal clothes and sit on the throne. I'll stand at the gate in your uniform." Subha could not refuse the king's suggestion.  The king and the gate-keeper quickly exchanged their clothes before the courtiers came to report for duty. After exchanging the clothes, the king went to the gate for his duty while Subha went to council room and sat on the throne.  The courtiers started coming in ones and twos. Just before they took their seats, they walked up to the king and paid him due respect as usual. Subha sat proudly on the ...

  The Legend Of The Devil Bird | A Tragic Story  Devil bird Once upon a time there lived a hunter in a remote village in Sri Lanka. The village was situated near a thick forest surrounded by the hills.  The hunter was married and had one little son. He was a cruel and heartless man. His one and only dream was to kill some animal each day. There wasn't a single day when he did not add some meat to his meals. He had the habit of leaving home every morning on hunting. One day, it so happened that the hunter had to return home empty handed.  As he was sitting under the huge banyan tree in front of his hut, his little son came to him. The little one asked his father, " Father, you haven't taken me to the forest for some time. I like to see deer drinking water at the lake."  The hunter stood up and told his wife that he was taking their son to the forest. He was one who never changed his decisions. So, the woman told the hunter, "Take good care of the child, please. D...

  The Young Gardener | A Short Story  A young man entered a shop and asked the shopkeeper if he could use the telephone and he would pay for it. The shopkeeper looked at the young man from head to toe and nodded his head.  The young man reached the phone and dialed a number. The shopkeeper watched silently. The young man started talking.  "Good morning! Madam...Are you looking for a gardener?" "The lady replied, "Good morning! No, not  necessary at the moment."  The young man said, "I can mow your garden and prune the trees." The lady said, "Well, I already have one for all this work."  The young man then said, "I'll do it for half the wages you pay for him."  The lady still refused. He said, "Well, madam , I have long experience as a gardener. I have worked for a number of wealthy people. I can transform your garden also into one of the best gardens in the city. Just allow me to work in your garden one day."  The lad...

  The Little Shoe-shiner  A certain elderly gentleman was on his way to his office along a busy pavement in Colombo. The gentleman stopped for a while to buy a newspaper when a small boy of school going age approached him and said timidly, "Sir! Shall I polish your shoes?"  The gentleman looked at the child from head to toe. He felt pity to see the child in a tattered shirt and a pair of shorts. It appeared that the little child had not taken haircut for ages. The old gentleman automatically remembered his grandson who was also around the same age as the child standing in front of him.  "Alright, polish them quickly. I'm in a hurry to attend some important meeting," said the gentleman. The child pointed to a stool by the side of the pavement. The old gentleman made himself comfortable on the stool and allowed the boy to do the polishing. The child started his work. However, the old gentleman found that the child was slow at work. The gentleman said, "Child!...

  The Hiccup Treatment   An old couple lived in a village. They lived alone because their children were married and lived far from home. The old couple lived happily at their small cottage.  One day, the old woman got bouts of hiccups and whatever she did, she had no relief. The following day, she decided to go to the village doctor with a neighbouring lady.  The doctor told the woman that he wanted to examine her first. So, he asked her to lie down on the bed. The old lady got on to the bed with the help of the other lady. The doctor first checked her pulses and then examined her well. The old lady was still getting hiccup. He then sat down on a chair next to the bed and asked,  "How old are you grandma now?" She said, "I'm 83 doctor!" and continued suffocating her hiccups, "I have five children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, too".  The doctor kept silent for a few seconds and said,  "Mum! I find that you are pregnant!".  The old la...