The Monkey and Its Master

The street conjuror had a monkey. He displayed odd tricks on the street and the monkey gave him company and help. He danced, leapt and played funny games. At the end of the street show the monkey would collect the coins thrown by the spectators.

Travelling through towns and villages, they passed by a zoo. There the monkey saw other monkeys in a large cage. They were being feted by children with biscuits, sweets, and nuts. It was no work and all play for the lucky zoo monkeys.

At the dead of the night the conjuror's monkey quietly left its master. He entered the cage in the zoo. It had all the comfortable beds to sleep, and swings and tree trunks to play. Food was plenty. But he felt lonely and bored without work. He missed its master and the lively street shows. So he left the cage quietly. He found its master in tears without him. They embraced each other with joy.

Moral: Business may be troublesome, but idleness is pernicious.

(Once Upon A Time Vol.1, Dhingra, Delhi-India)