Thursday, March 29, 2007
@11:27 PM
STORIES - The Farmer's Overcrowded HouseOnce upon a time there lived a farmer, his wife and their two children. Though his house was small it was enough for his family. As the children grew older though, the house began to get more congested. The farmer decided to approach the king for help to get a bigger house allotted to them.
After receiving his request, the king called the farmer to him and asked, "How big is your family?"
The farmer replied, "There are four members in my family. I also have 2 buffaloes in the cattle shed in the backyard."
The king said, "Go home and tie one buffalo inside the house and see me next week".
The farmer was unhappy since the situation was obviously going to be worse than before. But he had to obey the king's order.
The following week, the farmer went to the palace to see the king.
The king asked him, "How do you find your situation now?"
To which the farmer replied, "Oh King, I find it difficult move around inside the house after tying one buffalo inside the house. Somehow, we are adjusting to live within the available space."
The king then said, "Go home and tie the second buffalo inside the house as well and see me next week."
The farmer was shocked to hear this but had no choice but to obey the king's order.
The following week, the king again asked him how he found his current situation.
The farmer lamented, "Oh king! We have no space to move inside the house and are not able to even sleep properly."
On hearing this, the king said, "Go home and move one buffalo back to the cattle shed and see me next week". The farmer was slightly relieved as his family could get some more space in the house. He did as he was told.
The following week, again the king inquired of the farmer's situation.
The farmer said, "Oh king, we are better now, but still not as comfortable as before."
The king said, "Go home and move the second buffalo back to the shed and see me next week".
The following week, when the king asked the farmer how he was doing, the farmer was visibly a much much happier man. He said, "Oh king! My house is very spacious now and we can move about freely. The house is more than adequate for the size of my family and I am grateful to you."
-a slice of life
