TWO
FRIENDS AND A BEAR
It
goes without saying that a friend need is a friend indeed. Let us relate a story
to illustrate this moral.
Once
there lived two friends in a village Apparently, they were hand in glove with
each other. They often said that they would stand by each other through thick
and thin. Nature decided to test their loyalty to each other. It happened so
that they went on a long journey. They had to pass through a thick forest. They
were unarmed. Suddenly, they saw a bear coming toward them. They were
frightened. Necessity is the mother of invention and it was the
time when both needed each other. Sometimes, necessity leads to selfishness.
One of the two friends climbed upon a tree without thinking of the other friend
and thus left him in the lurch The other friend was much confused.
The
deserted friend could do nothing in the face of that grave danger. An idea came
into his mind. He had heard that the bear does not harm any deceased person. He,
immediately, lay on the ground and held his breath. The bear came near him,
sniffed him, took him for a dead person and left him untouched.
When
it was out of sight, the friend on the tree came down and asked him what the
bear had whispered in his ear. (Friendship is often tested in the face of
difficulties). The friend lying on the ground stood up and told him
that the bear had advised him to be aware of selfish friends. Saying this. he
said goodbye to that fair weather friend and started his life journey alone.
MORAL:
“A friend in need is a friend indeed”.