The Girl Who Stood on a Grave

Some boys and girls were at a party one night. There was a graveyard down the street, and they were talking about how scary it was. 

"Don't ever stand on a grave after dark", one of the boys said. "The person inside will grab you. He'll pull you under." 

"That's not true," one of the girls said. "It's just a superstition." 

"I'll give you a dollar if you stand on a grave," said the boy. 

"A grave doesn't scare me," said the girl. "I'll do it right now." 

The boy handed her his knife. "Stick this knife in one of the graves," he said. "Then we'll know you were there." 

Ten Holes

 

 Once in a little village not that far from here, there was a problem. Animals had started dying off, one by one. In the morning their owners would see them lying outside with 10 holes in their chest. The people thought it was the work of their neighboring town.

   Then, one night a man by the name of Fred was closing his store for the night. It was very late, and he was anxious to get home to his family. He shut off all the lights, then closed the door with a satisfying click. As he turned around to go to his car he saw a dark shape in the distance. He stood still trying to make out what it was. As it got closer, Fred turned to go. It was the last move he ever made. The next day they found him with 10 holes in his chest. This made the town quite worried. They were scared of more people getting killed.

The Mouse, The Frog and The Hawk

A Mouse, who always lived on the land by an unlucky chance, formed an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part in the water.

One day, the frog intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived, until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with him. 

The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog.

In the sky a Hawk observed the floating dead mouse, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it up. The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

-end-

Tommy, The Pet Fish

Once there was an Indian boy who had a pet fish named Tommy, which he kept in a barrel.

The fish got pretty big and the Indian had to change the water quiet often to keep him alive. He was too lazy to do that, so he thought he would teach the fish to live out of water.

He began by taking Tommy out of the barrel for a few minutes at a time, pretty often, and then he took him out more often and kept him out longer. After sometime Tommy could stay out a good while if he was in some wet grass.

Then the Indian boy found he could leave him in the wet grass all night, and pretty soon that the fish could live in the shade whether the grass was wet or not. By that time he got pretty tame, too. He used to follow the boy anywhere. When the boy dig went out to dig worms to eat, Tommy went along too and got some for himself. The boy taught the fish everything, until Tommy didn’t need any water at all. He could go anywhere down a dusty road and stay all day out in the hot sun.

So, people wanted to buy Tommy, but the boy said he wouldn’t sell a fish like that for any amount of money. He walked to town with Tommy following along the road behind, just like a dog, only of course he traveled a good deal like a snake.

Well, it was really sad the way that the boy lost his fish and it was unusual, too. He went to town one day with Tommy coming along behind, as usual. There was a bridge in the road and the boy came to it. He was there was a hole in it, but he went over it without thinking. A little later he looked around for Tommy but he couldn’t find him. He went back away and called, but he couldn’t see any sign of his pet.

Finally he came to the bridge and saw the hole, and he thought that maybe his fish had fallen in there. So he went to the hole and looked down, and sure enough, there was Tommy, floating on the water, bottom-side up. He’d fallen through that hole into the river and drowned.

The Boy Who Cried "Wolf"

A shepherd boy was looking after his sheep on a hill. He fell bored being alone on a hill. Then, he thought of a way to make some fun.

While the villagers were busy working, they heard a boy shouting, "Help! Help! A wolf is attacking my sheep!"
"That sounds from the shepherd boy. He is in trouble. Let's go and help him," said the villagers and rushed towards the hill. They were very surprised when they did not see any wolves on the hill.
"Where's the wolf?" They asked.
The boy fell back and started laughing. The villagers realized that the boy had fooled them. They were angry and went back to work.

The next day, the villagers heard the shepherd boy shouting for help again. They rushed towards the hill, and again the boy laughed at them. They were fooled again.

On the third day, a wolf really came and attacked the sheep.
"Help! Help! A wolf is attacking my sheep!" Shouted the boy.
But nobody bothered him this time. The villagers thought that the boy was trying to trick them again. The boy watched sadly as the wolf killed all his sheep.

The Clever Servant

    

     A rich man wanted to make a journey to another town. He was a businessman. He wanted to take things to sell. He also wanted to take gold to buy things with. He decided to take ten servants with him. They would carry the things to sell and the gold, and also food to eat on the journey.

     He was a kind man. He said to one of his servants, 

"You are the smallest, the thinnest and the weakest of all my servants. You cannot carry a heavy load. You must choose the lightest load to carry."

     The servant thanked his master for his kindness. He pointed to the biggest load. This was bread to eat on the journey. His master said, "You are foolish. That is the biggest and heaviest load."

     But the servant picked up the load carefully and the journey began. They walked for four hours. Then, they stopped for a rest. They all ate some of the bread. There was less bread for the servant to carry. The servant's load grew smaller and lighter everyday. At the end of the journey, the servant had nothing to carry.

The Man, The Boy, And The Donkey

   

  This is an old story, but it teaches us something that is still true today.

     One day, a wise man said to his young son, "Come with me. I will show you something." The father got onto his donkey and told his son to walk behind him.

     On the road, some people pointed at the man and said,
"Look at that man. Why doesn't he let the boy ride the donkey?"
The man heard this, and so they changed places. The boy rode the donkey and the man walked.

     A few minutes later they passed some other people. The people pointed and said, "Look at that boy. How can he ride while his old father walks?"
They both heard it. They decided to ride on the donkey together.

     Then, they passed some other people who said, "What a poor donkey. That poor little donkey can't carry two people. They're too heavy."
So they both got off the donkey and they both walked.

     They walked through a village, and people laughed at them, saying,
"Look at those two fools! Why do they walk when they have a donkey?"
The man and the boy thought, then the man said, "We've tried walking and we've tried riding. Let's try carrying the donkey."
So they carried the donkey, and all the people in the village laughed at them, saying, "Look! They're carrying the donkey! They are mad!"

   Finally they put the donkey down, and the man said to his son,
"This is a lesson for you, my son. In this life, you can never please everyone."

Jealous Ken

   

  Robert and Ken lived on the same street. Both children had a good home and lots of nice things. But Ken was unhappy because some of Robert's things were better than his. In other words, Ken was a jealous boy. 

    Robert and Ken grew up and later got jobs. At first, they both cycled to work every morning. Then Robert bought a motorcycle. Every morning, Robert on his motorcycle rode past Ken on his bicycle, and Ken felt jealous. So Ken bought a motorcycle and he was happy. He was happy until Robert bought a car.

    Ken worked hard until he had enough money for a car. He bought a car, and it was as good as Robert's car. There were a lot of other cars on the road, so the journey to work was slower, but Ken was happy. But after a year, Robert bought a big car. Again Ken felt jealous.

    

   So Ken worked very hard, and then he bought an expensive big car. This morning Ken left home in his new car. There were cars in front of him, and none of them could move. However, Ken was happy because his car was bigger, better, and faster than Robert's car.

   Suddenly he saw Robert behind him, but Robert was not in car. He was riding a bicycle. It was a new bicycle. The cars moved so slowly so Robert cycled past them easily. Ken watched as Robert cycled away in from of him. He watched him from his big, expensive car ... and felt jealous. 

    

A Miracle

   

  Sally was only eight years old when she heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her little brother, George. He was very sick and they had done everything they could afford to save his life. Only a very expensive surgery could help him now ... and that was out of the financial question. Sally heard Daddy say it with a whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."
    
     Sally went to her bedroom and pulled her piggy bank from its hiding place in the closet. She shook all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times. The total had to be exactly perfect. No change here for mistakes. Tying the coins up in an old handkerchief, she slipped out of the apartement and went to a drug store. She waited for the pharmacicst to give her attention. But he was too busy talking to another man. Sally twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. She cleared her throat. It didn't work. She finally took a quarter from its hiding place and banged it on the glass counter.
"What do you want?" The pharmacicst asked in an annoyed voice. "I'm talking to my brother."
     "Well I want to talk to you about my brother," Sally answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's sick... and I want to buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon," said the pharmacist.
"My Daddy says only a miracle can save him now..so how much does a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I can't help you."
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. Just tell me how much it costs."

     A well dressed man stooped down and asked, "What kind of miracle does your brother need?"
"I don't know," Sally answered. A tear started down her cheek. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my parents can't pay for it...so I have my money.
"How much do you have?" Asked the well dressed man.
"A dollar and eleven cents," Sally answered proudly. "And its all the money I have in the world."
"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the well dressed man. A dollar and elevent cents... the exact price of a miracle to save a little brother. He took the money and said " Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents."

     That well dressed man was Dr.Carlton Armstrong, renowed surgeon specializing in solving George's malady. The operation was completed without charge. George was home again and doing well.
Mommy and Daddy were very happy.
"That surgery is like a miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost." Mommy whispered.
Sally smiled to herself. She knew exactly how much a miracle costs...one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a little child.

No Charge for Love

    

 A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he fell a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.
"Mister, I want to buy one of your puppies," he said.
The boy reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.
"I've got thirty nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure," said the farmer.
     Out of the doghouse and down the ramp ran four little balls of fur. The puppies looked so cute. The little boy were so excited. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the boy noticed something else inside the doghouse. Slowly another little puppy appeared. This one was smaller and ran slower.
"I want that one," the little boy said.
     The farmer knelt down at the boy side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."
     The boy looked at the farmer's face. Then he stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.
"You see sir, I don't run well myself, and he will need someone who understands."
     With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little puppy. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.
"How much?" Asked the boy.
"No charge," answered the farmer,
"There is no charge for love."

Malin Kundang ( folktale from West Sumatera)

Once upon a time, on the north coast of Sumatra lived a poor woman and his son. The boy was called Malin Kundang. They didn’t earn much as fishing was their only source of income. Malin Kundang grew up as a skillful young boy. He always helps his mother to earn some money. However, as they were only fisherman’s helper, they still lived in poverty. “Mother, what if I sail overseas?” asked Malin Kundang one day to his mother. Her mother didn’t agree but Malin Kundang had made up his mind. “Mother, if I stay here, I’ll always be a poor man. I want to be a successful person,” urged Malin kundang. His mother wiped her tears, “If you really want to go, I can’t stop you. I could only pray to God for you to gain success in life,” said his mother wisely. “But, promise me, you’ll come home.”

In the next morning, Malin Kundang was ready to go. Three days ago, he met one of the successful ship’s crew. Malin was offered to join him. “Take a good care of yourself, son,” said Malin Kundang’s mother as she gave him some food supplies. “Yes, Mother,” Malin Kundang said. “You too have to take a good care of yourself. I’ll keep in touch with you,” he continued before kissing his mother’s hand. Before Malin stepped onto the ship, Malin’s mother hugged him tight as if she didn’t want to let him go.

It had been three months since Malin Kundang left his mother. As his mother had predicted before, he hadn’t contacted her yet. Every morning, she stood on the pier. She wished to see the ship that brought Malin kundang home. Every day and night, she prayed to the God for her son’s safety. There was so much prayer that had been said due to her deep love for Malin Kundang. Even though it’s been a year she had not heard any news from Malin Kundang, she kept waiting and praying for him.

After several years waiting without any news, Malin Kundang’s mother was suddenly surprised by the arrival of a big ship in the pier where she usually stood to wait for her son. When the ship finally pulled over, Malin Kundang’s mother saw a man who looked wealthy stepping down a ladder along with a beautiful woman. She could not be wrong. Her blurry eyes still easily recognized him. The man was Malin Kundang, her son.

Malin Kundang’s mother quickly went to see her beloved son. “Malin, you’re back, son!” said Malin Kundang’s mother and without hesitation, she came running to hug Malin Kundang, “I miss you so much.” But, Malin Kundang didn’t show any respond. He was ashamed to admit his own mother in front of his beautiful wife. “You’re not my Mother. I don’t know you. My mother would never wear such ragged and ugly clothes,” said Malin Kundang as he release his mother embrace.

Malin Kundang’s mother take a step back, “Malin…You don’t recognize me? I’m your mother!” she said sadly. Malin Kundang’s face was as cold as ice. “Guard, take this old women out of here,” Malin Kundang ordered his bodyguard. “Give her some money so she won’t disturb me again!” Malin Kundang’s mother cried as she was dragged by the bodyguard, ”Malin... my son. Why do you treat your own mother like this?”

Malin Kundang ignored his mother and ordered the ship crews to set sail. Malin Kundang’s mother sat alone in the pier. Her heart was so hurt, she cried and cried. “Dear God, if he isn’t my son, please let him have a save journey. But if he is, I cursed him to become a stone,” she prayed to the God.

In the quiet sea, suddenly the wind blew so hard and a thunderstorm came. Malin Kundang’s huge ship was wrecked. He was thrown by the wave out of his ship, and fell on a small island. Suddenly, his whole body turned into stone. He was punished for not admitting his own mother.***

The Crying Stone (folktale from West Kalimantan)

One upon a time, lived a poor old widow in a small village. She lived with her daughter. Her daughter was very beautiful but also very lazy and arrogant. She never helped her mother and didn’t want to know what problem her mother had. Everyday, she put make up and wears her best clothes. She always wanted to look rich and beautiful.

One day, the mother and her daughter went to the market to buy some food. At first, the daughter refused to accompany her mother, but finally she agreed. “I’ll go with you, but you must walk behind me,” said the daughter. She didn't want to walk side by side with her mother. Although her mother was very sad, she agreed to walk behind her daughter.

On the way to the market, everybody admired the girl's beauty. But they were also curious. Behind the beautiful girl, there was an old woman with a simple dress. The girl and her mother looked very different. “Hello, beautiful girl. Who is the old woman behind you? Is she your mother?" they asked. “No, she is not my mother. She is my servant,” the girl answered. Her mother was very sad to hear that, but she didn't say anything. She could understand that her daughter was ashamed.

The girl and the mother met other people. Again they asked who the woman behind the beautiful girl. And again the girl answered that her mother is her servant. She always said that her mother is her servant every time people asked.

At last, the mother cannot hold the pain anymore. She prayed to God to punish her daughter. Suddenly, the girl's leg turns into stone. Slowly, the process continues to the upper part of the girl's body. The girl was in panic. "Mother, please forgive me! Mother!" she cried and asked her mother to forgive her. But it's already too late. Her whole body finally becomes a big stone. Until now, people can still see tears falling down from the stone. People then call it batu menangis (it mean the crying stone).***

Mouse Deer and Tiger

One upon a time, there was a mouse deer living in a forest. Although he was small, he wasn’t afraid of the other bigger animals who wanted to eat him. He was so smart; he always managed to ditch them. One day, a tiger was wandering around for food. He hadn't been eating for days. He was really hungry. While he was walking in the forest, he saw Mouse Deer. The tiger wanted to eat him.

Tiger slowly ducked, crawled, approaching Mouse Deer, then..."Gotcha!" said Tiger. He caught Mouse Deer. “Hello, Mouse Deer! I’m really hungry right now. You’ll be my lunch!” said Tiger. Mouse Deer didn’t want to be his lunch. He tried to be calm. He looked around and saw some buffalo’s dung. He had an idea. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch now. The King has ordered me to guard his cake,” said Mouse Deer calmly. “His cake?” said Tiger curiously. “Yes, there it is. It’s very delicious. The King doesn’t want anyone else to eat it, so he ordered me to guard it,” Mouse Deer pointed the buffalo’s dung. “Can I taste it?” Tiger asked. “Of course you can’t. The King would be very angry,” said Mouse Deer refused. “Just one little bite, Mouse Deer! The King will never know,” said Tiger. “Well, okay, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so the King won’t blame me,” said Mouse Deer. “All right, Mouse deer. You can go now.” Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. Tiger then took a big mouthful of the ‘cake’. “Phoooey!” He spit it out. “Yuck, that’s not cake. That’s buffalo’s dung.”

Tiger ran through the forest. He caught up with Mouse Deer. “Mouse Deer, you tricked me. But now you will be my lunch.” Mouse Deer looked around and saw a wasp nest in a tree. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch now. The King has ordered me to guard his drum,” said Mouse Deer calmly. “His drum?” said Tiger curiously. “Yes, there it is. It has the best sound in the world. The King doesn’t want anyone else to hit it,” Mouse Deer pointed the wasp nest. “Can I hit the King’s drum?” Tiger asked. “Of course you can’t. The King would be very angry,” said Mouse Deer refused. “Just one little hit, Mouse Deer! The King will never know,” said Tiger. ”Well, all right, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so the King won’t blame me,” said Mouse Deer. “All right, Mouse Deer. You can go now.” Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. Tiger then reached up and hit the wasp nest. Bzzzzzzz…! “Ouch…ouch! That’s not a drum. That a wasp nests!”

Tiger ran away. But the wasps keep following him. He came to the river. He jumped in and stayed underwater as long as he could. At last the wasps went away. Then he jumped out. He ran through the forest till he found Mouse Deer. “Mouse Deer, you tricked me again. But now you will be my lunch.” Mouse Deer looked around and saw a cobra. The snake was coiled asleep on the ground. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch now. The King has ordered me to guard his belt,” said Mouse Deer calmly. “His belt?” said Tiger curiously. “Yes. There it is. It’s the best belt in the world. The King doesn’t want anyone else to wear it,” Mouse Deer pointed the cobra. “Can I wear it?” Tiger asked. “Of course you can’t. The King would be very angry,” said Mouse Deer refused. “Just for one moment, Mouse Deer! The King will never know,” said Tiger. ”Well, all right, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so the King won’t blame me,” said Mouse Deer. “All right, Mouse Deer. You can go now.” Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. Tiger then took the snake and started to warp it around himself. The cobra woke up. It squeezed Tiger and bit him. SSssssstt! “Oouch! Ow! Ooow! That’s not a belt! That’s a cobra! Help! Mouse Deer! Help!” But Mouse Deer was already far away. He laughed aloud. Mouse Deer was safe from Tiger now.

*End*

Mouse Deer and Crocodile

One day, Mouse Deer went down to the river to take a drink. But he knew that the crocodile might be waiting underwater to eat him, so he said out loud. “I wonder if the water’s warm. I’ll put in my leg and find out.” Of course Mouse Deer didn’t put in his leg. He picked up a stick instead and put one end into the water. Chomp…! Crocodile grabbed the stick and pulled it underwater. Mouse Deer laughed. “Ha… ha…ha… Stupid crocodile! Cant you tell the difference between a stick and a leg?” Then Mouse Deer ran off to drink somewhere else.

In the next day, Mouse Deer wanted to cross the river. He wanted to eat the fruits on the other side of the river. He saw a floating log in the river. He knew that Crocodile looked like a log when he floated. Mouse Deer didn’t want to be eaten by Crocodile when he crosses the river. He had an idea. He called out loud, “Crocodile!” Crocodile rose from the water, “Hello, Mouse Deer. Have you come to be my lunch?” Mouse Deer smiled. “Sorry, not today, Crocodile. I have orders from the King. He wants to invite all the crocodiles in this river to a party. He wants me to count all the crocodiles so he could prepare enough meal for you.”

“Really…? Tell us what to do,” said Crocodile. “You must line up from this side of the river to the other side,” said Mouse Deer. Crocodile then got all his friends and family. They lined up across the river. Mouse Deer then jumped onto Crocodile’s back. “One,” he counted. He jumped onto the next crocodile, “Two.” And the next crocodile, “Three.” Mouse Deer kept jumping until he arrived on the other side of the river. “How many are there?” asked Crocodile. “Just enough,” said Mouse Deer. He laughed as he ran to the forest.***