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GRATITUDE OF THE LITTLE COW

Once upon a time, there were two cows, mother and child. They lived in a cave in the forest. The mother went out to find food every morning, never forgetting to warn her child.

“Don’t go out until Mother comes back, do you understand?”

One morning the cow went out to find food as usual. Before leaving, she again warned her child.

“Don’t go out to play until I come back. You have to understand that the forest is dangerous for a little one like you.”

The cow went off, deep into the forest, into a region where a hungry tiger was hunting for its food. Seeing the cow, it sprang at her, dragging her down, ready to devour her.

“Please, please don’t kill me,” said the stricken cow. “If I die, my child will be left alone, no-one in the world to look after him. If I don’t return, he won’t venture out, and will starve to death.”

The tiger was hungry. He wasn’t interested in this plea for mercy. But the mother, desperate, continued to cry out.

“Please, tiger, if you won’t eat me now, I’ll come back after feeding my child, and saying good-bye to him. I’ll explain that he has no mother to look after him from now on. Please let me go. I promise faithfully to come back to you.”

The tiger’s fierceness was softened , but he growled, “All right. Go then. But if you don’t come back I’ll follow and eat both of you.”

When the cow arrived back at the cave, she told her calf what had happened. “From now on, you won’t have anyone to protect you. Take my milk for the last time, and look after yourself, my small one.”

But the calf wouldn’t hear of her going back to be eaten by the tiger. “If you must go back, I’ll go with you. All my short life I’ve never done anything for you, to thank you and show my gratitude.”

In her turn, the cow protested. “No my child. You have a long life ahead of you, but I’m already old. What do I have to lose?”

But without waiting to hear any more, the calf ran out, determine to sacrifice himself in place of his mother - the cow could only follow her son as fast as she could.

When they reached where the tiger was waiting, the little calf begged the tiger to eat him in place of his mother, while the mother reminded the tiger that she’d promised to return to be his prey.

The tiger was amazed, and move at the sight of them. He forgot his hunger.

All right, “ he said. “You’ve won me over. I won’t eat either of you. The mother has shown extraordinary honesty. The child has demonstrated his gratefulness. You’re free, the pair of you.”

From that time on, mother and son lived together in peace and mutual regard.