The fisherman and his friend (1)

In the northern parts of Tzu-chou there lived a man named Hsu, a fisherman by trade. Every night when he went to fish he would carry some wine with him, and drink and fish by turns, always taking care to pour out a libation on the ground, accompanied by the following invocation -- "Drink too, ye drowned spirits of the river !" Such was his regular custom; and it was also noticeable that, even on occasions when the other fishermen caught nothing, he always got a full basket.

One night, as he was sitting drinking by himself, a young man suddenly appeared and began walking up and down near him. Hsu offered him a cup of wine, which was readily accepted, and they remained chatting together throughout the night, Hsu mean- while not catching a single fish. However, just as he was giving up all hope of doing anything, the young man rose and said he would go a little way down the stream and beat them up towards Hsu, which he accordingly did, returning in a few minutes and warning him to be on the lookout. Hsu now heard a noise like that of a shoal coming up the stream, and, casting his net, made a splendid haul, -- all that he caught being over a foot in length.

Greatly delighted, he now prepared to go home, first offering his companion a share of the fish, which the latter declined, saying that he had often received kindnesses from Mr. Hsu, and that he would be only too happy to help him regularly in the same manner if Mr. Hsu would accept his assistance. The latter replied that he did not recollect ever meeting him before, and that he should be much obliged for any aid the young man might choose to afford him; regretting, at the same time, his inability to make him any adequate return. He then asked the young man his name and surname; and the young man said his surname was Wang, adding that Hsu might address him when they met as Wang Liu-lang, he having no other name. Thereupon they parted, and the next day Hsu sold his fish and bought some more wine, with which he repaired as usual to the riverbank. There he found his companion already awaiting him, and they spent the night together in precisely the same way as the preceding one, the young man beating up the fish for him as before.

This went on for some months, until at length one evening the young man, with many expressions of his thanks and his regrets, told Hsu that they were about to part for ever. Much alarmed by the melancholy tone in which his friend had communicated this news, Hsu was on the point of asking for an explanation, when the young man stopped him, and himself proceeded as follows : -- "The friendship that has grown up between us is truly surprising; and, now that we shall meet no more, there is no harm in telling you the whole truth. I am a disembodied spirit -- the soul of one who was drowned in this river when tipsy. I have been here many years, and your former success in fishing was due to the fact that I used secretly to beat up the fish towards you, in return for the libations you were accustomed to pour out. Tomorrow my time is up : my substitute will arrive, and I shall be born again in the world of mortals. We have but this one evening left, and I therefore take advantage of it to express my feelings to you."

On hearing these words, Hsu was at first very much alarmed; however, he had grown so accustomed to his friend's society, that his fears soon passed away; and, filling up a goblet, he said, with a sigh, "Liu-lang, old fellow, drink this up, and away with melancholy. It's hard to lose you; but I'm glad enough for your sake, and won't think of my own sorrow." He then inquired of Liu-lang who was to be his substitute; to which the latter replied, "Come to the riverbank tomorrow afternoon and you'll see a woman drowned : she is the one." Just then the village cocks began to crow, and, with tears in their eyes, the two friends bade each other farewell.

Next day Hsu waited on the riverbank to see if anything would happen, and a woman carrying a child in her arms came along. When close to the edge of the river, she stumbled and fell into the water, managing, however, to throw the child safely on to the bank, where it lay kicking and sprawling and crying at the top of its voice. The woman herself sank and rose several times, until at last she succeeded in clutching hold of the bank and pulled herself, dripping, out; and then, after resting awhile, she picked up the child and went on her way.

All this time Hsu had been in a great state of excitement, and was on the point of running to help the woman out of the water; but he remembered that she was to be the substitute of his friend, and accordingly restrained himself from doing so. Then when he saw the woman get out by herself, he began to suspect that Liu-lang's words had not been fulfilled.

That night he went to fish as usual, and before long the young man arrived and said, "We meet once again: there is no need now to speak of separation." Hsu asked him how it was so; to which he replied, "The woman you saw had already taken my place, but I could not bear to hear the child cry, and I saw that my one life would be purchased at the expense of their two lives, where- fore I let her go, and now I cannot say when I shall have another chance. The union of our destinies may not yet be worked out."

Cinderella

Once upon a time there was a girl called Cinderella. She lived with her stepsisters. They were very bossy. They made Cinderella do all the housework.One day an invitation to the ball came to the family. Her stepsisters would not let her go. Cinderella was sad because she wanted to go to the ball too. Her stepsisters went to the ball without her.Fortunately, the fairy Godmother came and helped her to get to the ball. At the ball, Cinderella dance with the prince. The prince fell in love with her then married her. They lived happily ever after.

BOROBUDUR STORY

BOROBUDUR : With regards to Buddha, the name is not identify a person, but, term to denote a person who has reached BODHI, a person who has acquored absolute Englightment and is thus aware of the meaning of live. and to him is revealed the real way to liberate oneself from the constrain of KARMA. the founder of Buddhism, as we learn from history is actually a son of king name Prince Siddhartha.

Prince Siddhatha was born as the son of King Suddhodang and Queen Dewi Maya of Kapilawastu The founder of Buddhism was born in Lumbini Park. 7 days after his birth his mother , Dewi Maya Died. and went go to the paradise, Dewa Indra ( the god ). The boy was then take care by a sister of his mother the named is ( Mahaprajapati Gutami ) as soon as he had become a adult and then he want to marry Princess Gopa.

One day during a pleasure tour around city, the princess meet the following in succssion that was an old man, a sick man , a died man , and a priest. The three first meeting awakened - awareness in the Bodhisattva. " the person who will become Buddha " of the reality that suffering is inevitable and accompanise the worldly life of man. while the meeting with the priest opened the way to absolute liberation from all kind of suffering.

From that moment on he decide to leave this worldly live. he become a wandering monk and called himself as Sakyamuni ( a monk from the family sakya ). He study at prominent teacher such as Arada Kapala and Rudraka, but none of their teachings satisfied him. prince Siddhartha, therefore , decide to take hes onw way the golden ( Madyamika ) at the end he meditated under the Bodhi tree in the city of Bodhgaya in the order to attain the Englightment which constituted him the buddha. as soon he had attained absolute Englightment he was called Buddha Gautama.

The teaching of Buddha is called Drama, which also means the law. Dharma is symbolized by the wheel. the essence of the teaching is how to eliminate Karma ( causality of good and bad deeds ) how to break the Samsara circle ( suffering by endless recurrence of live ) and the end how to reach Nirwana ( a state of absolute nothingness ) Life in Samsara is suffering cause by passion, desire and therefore passion should be eradicated.

The way thought by buddha to eradicate passion not by worship, the teaching of Weda , or self torture, but by leading the novice to concentrate of meditate. this was based on the believe in Buddha and his teaching by living ethnically and by persevering, going from one stage to a high stage. Gradually desire will be eliminated and the novice will mature to receive the Budi ( consciousness ) that individually does not exist, so that he is free of Karma and Samsara and many enter Nirwana.

The Buddha can easily be recognized because he is always depicted as a human being. his statues all show him dressed simply in the robe of a monk. On his head there is a kind of knot of hair called Ushinsha , and his wavy hair coil to the right, There are two small protrusions between the brows. His hand never hold anything, but the position of the hand called is Mudra. the important to differentiate each Buddha. The face of Buddha is always depicted without emotion. The statues of Buddha exude extreme serenity and peacefulness.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Sunday, 15 February 2009 11:19

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. "Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?" "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same." "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for days of need. [Aesop’s classic tales]

The Pied Piper

Many years ago, in the German town of Hamelin, the people had a terrible problem with rats. There were rats everywhere, in the streets, houses, beds, and even in babies cots. The mayor did not know what to do. One day, a peculiar man called the Pied Piper arrived and said he could deal with the problem if the mayor would pay a huge sum of money. The mayor agreed. The Pied Piper played the pipes and the rats followed him out of Hamelin and fell out a cliff. "I refuse to pay!" said the mayor. So, the Pied Piper played his pipes again. This time every child followed the Pier Piper. They never returned. The mayor had learned his lesson, but much too late.

The Gingerbread Man

Once upon a time, an old woman and her husband lived alone in a little old house. The couple had no children, and being lonely, the woman decided to make a boy of gingerbread. She carefully mixed the batter, rolled out the dough, and cut out out a very nice gingerbread man. She added sugar icing for his hair, mouth, and clothes, and she used candy chips for buttons and eyes. What a fine looking gingerbread man he was! The old woman put him in the oven to bake. After he was fully done, she slowly opened the oven door. Up jumped the gingerbread man, and he ran out the door saying,
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
The old woman and the old man ran after him, but they could not catch him.


And so the Gingerbread Man ran and ran. While he running, he met a cow.
"Moo," said the cow. "You look very fine! Fine enough to eat!" And the cow started to chase to little man.
But the Gingerbread Man ran faster, saying,
"I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
And I can run away from you!
I can!"

And he laughed,
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
The cow ran after the Gingerbread Man, but she could not catch him.


The Gingerbread Man kept running, and soon he met a horse.
"Neigh," said the horse, "You look mighty tasty. I think that I would like to eat you."
"But you can't!" said the Gingerbread Man.
"I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
I ran away from a cow,
And I can run away from you!
I can!"

And so he ran singing,
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
The horse ran after the Gingerbread Man, but he could not catch him.



The Gingerbread Man ran and ran, laughing and singing. While he ran, he met a chicken.
"Cackle, cackle," said the chicken, "You look fine enough to peck for dinner. I'm going to eat you, Mr. Gingerbread Man."
But the Gingerbread Man just laughed.
"I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
I ran away from a cow,
I ran away from a horse,
And I can run away from you!
I can!"

And so he ran singing,
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
The chicken ran after the Gingerbread Man, but she could not catch him.


The Gingerbread Man was proud that he could run so fast.
"Nobody can catch me," he thought. So he kept on running until he met a fox.
He just had to tell the fox how he ran faster than all the others.

"Mr. Fox," he said,
"As tasty as I appear to be,
I cannot let you catch and eat me.
I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
I ran away from a cow,
I ran away from a horse,
I ran away from a chicken,
And I can run away from you!
I can!"
But Mr. Fox did not seem to care.

"Why would I want to bother you?" asked Mr. Fox. "You don't even look that tasty. No, young man, I don't want to eat you at all."
The Gingerbread Man was so relieved.

"Well, indeed, Mr. Fox," said the Gingerbread Man. "If you don't mind, I think I'll take a little rest here." And the Gingerbread Man stopped running and stood still.
And right when he stood still. Snap! went Mr. Fox's jaws right into the Gingerbread Man until he was gone.
"He was very tasty after all," thought the fox.

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me." The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge." "That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way." "Keep your boasting till you've won," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race?" So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then the Tortoise said: "Slow but steady progress wins the race." [Aesop’s classic tales]

The Princess and the Pea

Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess; but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted. There were princesses enough, but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones. There was always something about them that was not as it should be. So he came home again and was sad, for he would have liked very much to have a real princess.

One evening a terrible storm came on; there was thunder and lightning, and the rain poured down in torrents. Suddenly a knocking was heard at the city gate, and the old king went to open it.

It was a princess standing out there in front of the gate. But, good gracious! what a sight the rain and the wind had made her look. The water ran down from her hair and clothes; it ran down into the toes of her shoes and out again at the heels. And yet she said that she was a real princess.

Well, we'll soon find that out, thought the old queen. But she said nothing, went into the bed-room, took all the bedding off the bedstead, and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them on the pea, and then twenty eider-down beds on top of the mattresses.

On this the princess had to lie all night. In the morning she was asked how she had slept.

"Oh, very badly!" said she. "I have scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, so that I am black and blue all over my body. It's horrible!"

Now they knew that she was a real princess because she had felt the pea right through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down beds.

Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive as that.

So the prince took her for his wife, for now he knew that he had a real princess; and the pea was put in the museum, where it may still be seen, if no one has stolen it.

[Hans Christian Andersen]

Timun Mas

In ancient times, there lived a couple of farmers. They lived in a village near the forest. They lived happily. Unfortunately they have not only blessed with a single child.

Every day they pray to the Almighty. They prayed for a child immediately given. One day a giant through their homes. The giant heard the prayer of the husband and wife. The giant then give them the seeds of cucumbers.

"Plant these seeds. You'll get a girl, "said Giant. "Thank you, Giant," said the husband and wife. "But one condition. At the age of 17 years of the child should you give to me, "said Giant. Husband and wife were very long for a child. Therefore, without thinking they agreed.

Farmer's wife's husband and then plant the seeds of cucumbers that. Every day they take care of the plants began to grow it as quickly as possible. Months later grew a golden cucumbers.

Cucumber fruit was becoming increasingly large and heavy. When the fruit is ripe, they pick it. With their carefully cut the fruit. Their surprise, inside the fruit that they find the baby girl is very pretty. Husband and wife were very happy. They gave the baby's name Timun Mas.

Year after year passed. Timun Mas grown into a beautiful girl. Both parents very proud of him. But they became very afraid. Because the birthday of the Timun Mas-17, the giant came back. Giant promises to take Timun Mas.

The farmer was trying to calm down. "Wait a minute. Timun Mas is playing. My wife will call, "he said. The farmer soon see his son. "Anakkku, take this," he said as he handed her a cloth bag. "This will help against the Giants. Now run as fast as possible, "he said. Mas Timun then immediately fled.

Husband and wife were saddened by the departure of Timun Mas. But they are not willing to have his son become the food giant. Giants waited long enough. He grew impatient. He knew, had lied to the husband and wife. Then he destroyed the farmer's cottage. Then he pursued into the woods Timun Mas.

Giants immediately ran after Timun Mas. Giants closer. Mas Timun soon took a handful of salt from the cloth bag. Then the salt was sown into the Giants. Suddenly a wide sea was lying. Giants forced to swim with difficulty.

Timun Mas running again. But then the giant almost caught up with him. Timun Mas magic again took it from his pocket. He took a handful of chili. Chili was thrown to the giant. Immediately tree with branches and sharp thorns giant trap. Giant screamed in pain. While Timun Mas ran for cover.

But the Giants really strong. He was again almost caught Timun Mas. Mas Timun then took out a third magical objects. He spread the seeds of cucumbers magic. At once a garden of cucumbers grow very large. Giants very tired and hungry. He also ate a cucumber-fresh cucumbers with gusto. Because of too much eating, sleeping giant.

Timun Mas escape again. He ran hard. But his strength gradually exhausted. Worse because the Giants woke up from sleep. Giants once again close to him. Mas Timun very scared. He also threw his weapon of last resort, a handful of shrimp paste. Again, a miracle happened. A vast lake of mud stretching. The giant fell into it. His hands almost reached Timun Mas. But the lake was pulled into the mud bottom. Giant panic. He could not breathe, and then drowned.

Cucumbers Mas relief. He has survived. Mas Timun returned to his parents' house. Father and Mother Timun Mas glad to see Timun Mas survived. They welcomed him. "Thank You, Lord. You saved my son, "they said happily.

Since then Timun Mas can live quietly with her parents. They can live happily without fear again.

The Monkey and the Crocodile

Once there lived a monkey in a jamun tree by a river. The monkey was alone - he had no friends, no family, but he was happy and content. The jamun tree gave him plenty of sweet fruit to eat, and shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.

One day a crocodile came swimming up the river and climbed on to the bank to rest under the monkey's tree. 'Hello', called the monkey, who was a friendly animal. 'Hello', replied the crocodile, surprised. 'Do you know where I can get some food?' he asked. 'I haven't had anything to eat all day - there just don't seem to be any fish left in the river.'

'Well,' said the monkey, 'I don't eat fish so I wouldn't know - but I do have plenty of ripe purple jamuns in my tree. Would you like to try some?' He threw some down to the crocodile. The crocodile was so hungry that he ate up all the jamuns even though crocodiles don't eat fruit. He loved the sweet tangy fruit and shyly asked whether he could have some more. 'Of course', replied the monkey generously, throwing down more fruit. 'Come back whenever you feel like more fruit', he added when the crocodile had eaten his fill.

After that the crocodile would visit the monkey every day. The two animals soon became friends - they would talk and tell each other stories, and eat as much of the sweet jamuns as they wanted. The monkey would throw down all the fruit the crocodile wanted from his tree.

One day the crocodile began talking about his wife and family. 'Why didn't you tell me earlier that you had a wife?' asked the monkey. 'Please take some of the jamuns for her as well when you go back today.' The crocodile thanked him and took some of the fruit for his wife.

The crocodile's wife loved the jamuns. She had never eaten anything so sweet before. 'Imagine', she said, 'how sweet would be the creature who eats these jamuns every day. The monkey has eaten these every day of his life - his flesh would be even sweeter than the fruit.' She asked her husband to invite the monkey for a meal - 'and then we can eat him up' she said happily.

The crocodile was appalled - how could he eat his friend? He tried to explain to his wife that he could not possibly eat the monkey. 'He is my only true friend', he said. But she would not listen - she must eat the monkey. 'Since when do crocodiles eat fruit and spare animals?' she asked. When the crocodile would not agree to eat the monkey, she pretended to fall very sick. 'Only a monkey's heart can cure me', she wailed to her husband. 'If you love me you will get your friend the monkey and let me eat his heart.'

The poor crocodile did not know what to do - he did not want to eat his friend, but he could not let his wife die. At last he decided to bring the monkey to his wife.

'O dear friend', he called as soon as reached the jamun tree. ' My wife insists that you come to us for a meal. She is grateful for all the fruit that you have sent her, and asks that I bring you home with me.' The monkey was flattered, but said he could not possibly go because he did not know how to swim. 'Don't worry about that', said the crocodile. 'I'll carry you on my back.' The monkey agreed and jumped onto the crocodile's back.

The crocodile swam with him out into the deep wide river. When they were far away from the bank and the jamun tree, he said, 'My wife is very ill. The only thing that will cure her is a monkey's heart. So, dear friend, this will be the end of you and of our friendship.' The monkey was horrified. What could he do to save himself? He thought quickly and said 'Dear friend, I am very sorry to hear of your wife's illness and I am glad that I will be able to help her. But I have left my heart behind on the jamun tree. Do you think we could go back so that I can fetch it for your wife?

The crocodile believed the monkey. He turned and swam quickly to the jamun tree. The monkey leaped off his back and into the safety of his tree. 'False and foolish friend,' he called. 'Don't you know that we carry our hearts within us? I will never trust you again or ever give you fruit from my tree. Go away and don't come back again.'

The crocodile felt really foolish - he had lost a friend and a supply of good sweet fruit. The monkey had saved himself because he had thought quickly. He realised that a monkey and a crocodile could never be true friends - crocodiles preferred to eat monkeys rather than be friends with them.

The Talkative Turtle

Once, in a certain lake, there lived a turtle and a pair of swans. The turtle and the swans were friends. They would spend all their free time together telling each other stories, and exchanging news and gossip. The turtle especially loved to talk and chatter, and always had something to say.

One year, the rains did not come, and the lake began to dry up. The swans became worried. Supposing it did not rain at all, and the lake dried up completely? Where would they live in that case? But the turtle had a plan. She suggested that the swans fly in search of a lake that still had plenty of water. Once they found such a lake, all three of them could move there.

The swans agreed and flew off. After flying for several hours they the perfect lake. They returned to the turtle with the good news. But now another problem arose: the new lake was too far for the turtle to walk. How was the turtle to get there? The swans did not want to leave their friend behind.

The turtle thought for a while and came up with another plan. She asked the swans to find a strong stick that they could hold in their beaks. The turtle would then hang on to the stick with her mouth, and the swans could fly with her to the new lake.

The swans liked the idea, though they were worried that the turtle might begin talking and fall off the stick. 'You must be careful not to open your mouth while we are flying with you,' they warned her. 'Do you think you will be able to be quiet for such a long time?'

'Of course,' said the turtle. 'I will be careful - I know when to stop talking.'

So the swans did as she asked. They found a strong stick and each swan held one end of it in its beak. The turtle held on to the middle with her mouth, and away they flew, all three of them.

It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to the turtle. She was amazed at the way the world looked so far above the ground. She was longing to say something, but remembered in time to keep quiet.

At last they reached the lake the swans had found. It was a beautiful lake, large and blue, with plenty of water. 'Oh look!' the turtle began in excitement, remembering much too late to keep quiet. The stick slipped from her mouth and down she fell from the sky onto the rocks below. The swans were sad to see the end of their friend - the turtle did not live to enjoy the lake, only because she did not know when to stop talking.

The Lion and the Mouse

Once, as a lion lay sleeping in his den, a naughty little mouse ran up his tail, and onto his back and up his mane and danced and jumped on his head ...

...so that the lion woke up. The lion grabbed the mouse and, holding him in his large claws, roared in anger. 'How dare you wake me up! Don't you know that I am King of the Beasts? Anyone who disturbs my rest deserves to die! I shall kill you and eat you!'

The terrified mouse, shaking and trembling, begged the lion to let him go. 'Please don't eat me Your Majesty! I did not mean to wake you, it was a mistake. I was only playing. Please let me go - and I promise I will be your friend forever. Who knows but one day I could save your life?'

The lion looked at the tiny mouse and laughed. 'You save my life? What an absurd idea!' he said scornfully. 'But you have made me laugh, and put me into a good mood again, so I shall let you go.' And the lion opened his claws and let the mouse go free.

'Oh thank you, your majesty,' squeaked the mouse, and scurried away as fast as he could

A few days later the lion was caught in a hunter's snare. Struggle as he might, he couldn't break free and became even more entangled in the net of ropes. He let out a roar of anger that shook the forest. Every animal heard it, including the tiny mouse.

'My friend the lion is in trouble,' cried the mouse. He ran as fast as he could in the direction of the lion's roar, and soon found the lion trapped in the hunter's snare. 'Hold still, Your Majesty,' squeaked the mouse. 'I'll have you out of there in a jiffy!' And without further delay, the mouse began nibbling through the ropes with his sharp little teeth. Very soon the lion was free.
'I did not believe that you could be of use to me, little mouse, but today you saved my life,' said the lion humbly.
'It was my turn to help you, Sire,' answered the mouse.
Even the weak and small may be of help to those much mightier than themselves

The Three Fishes

Once, three fishes lived in a pond. One evening, some fishermen passed by the pond and saw the fishes. 'This pond is full of fish', they told each other excitedly. 'We have never fished here before. We must come back tomorrow morning with our nets and catch these fish!' So saying, the fishermen left.

When the eldest of the three fishes heard this, he was troubled. He called the other fishes together and said, 'Did you hear what the fishermen said? We must leave this pond at once. The fishermen will return tomorrow and kill us all!'

The second of the three fishes agreed.

'You are right', he said. 'We must leave the pond.'

But the youngest fish laughed. 'You are worrying without reason', he said. 'We have lived in this pond all our lives, and no fisherman has ever come here. Why should these men return? I am not going anywhere - my luck will keep me safe.'

The eldest of the fishes left the pond that very evening with his entire family. The second fish saw the fishermen coming in the distance early next morning and left the pond at once with all his family. The third fish refused to leave even then.

The fishermen arrived and caught all the fish left in the pond. The third fish's luck did not help him - he too was caught and killed.
The fish who saw trouble ahead and acted before it arrived as well as the fish who acted as soon as it came both survived. But the fish who relied only on luck and did nothing at all died. So also in life.

by Rohini Chowdhury

Gadis and The Singing Three

In one town near a beach and crowded with people there is lived an orphan girl. Her name is Gadis (Indonesian Language with mean a calling for a young girl). Her parents was died since she was small. Since then, she lived with her aunt. Unfortunately her aunt was very poor and had a bad temper. She always was being cruel to Gadis.

Gadis is a diligent girl, she always doing her job well. One of her job is getting water from a well. In beach area, it is no easy to get pure water. The location of the well is very far from her home. When she was going to get water Gadis always come by to sit under a big tree with dense leaf. In this time she can rest for a while and hindered from the hard sun light.

Sometimes, Gadis cried under that tree if she felt alone in this world. She doesn't know to whom she can tell her sadness. Between her cried she always pray to the God asking for His protection and guardian. Strangely, each time she cried the tree always spread out her branch. The leafs wave slowly and make a beautiful sound as seem the tree was singing. The sound made Gadis happy and amazed. The rhythm of this song cheer up her sorrow and make her forgetting all her sadness. The song became a lullaby. The little girl slept under the tree and the big tree lowering its branch so the sun light could not harm her body. When she slept too long, the tree wake her up by falling one leaf to her cheek.

Day by the day over, There was big news that the King wanted to make a new royal ship. Many old tree being cut off, the wood is used to make that new ship. Gadis is worried, she remember to her big old tree. She wonders is the tree has cut off too.

At the day, after she gets water, she runs to her tree. She found there was a white cross sign at the tree which mean her lovely tree will be cut too. Gadis was so sad, she can not say any single word. Her tear has dropped, she hugs the tree tightly. "My beloved three, perhaps this is the last day we've ever meet. Tomorrow they will cut you and I will loose you forever. What's making sad that I could not do anything to stop it. God bye my beloved three", cried her

The tree is lowering its branch, it seems he want to hug that little girl too. The leafs swap her tear softly and suddenly there was a sound. "Please don't be sad, my child. The royal ship will not sail without your wish. You must come aboard and together with me we will sail together ,"
At the morning the big tree was cut. After some month later the ship has done. The King was very happy and make a big celebration. The biggest party was made for the first time to celebrate it. However when they want to launch the ship to the water, the ship could not move. Many people try to push the ship to the water but still the ship could not move. The King became upset and angry.

The news about the royal ship which could not move came to Gadis ear. She remember to the last message from her big tree. She tried hard to go to the harbor and finally she met the King. She asked his permission to sail the ship. The King was not belief because many effort has done to make the ship move but finally when the ship was still could not move he decided to allow her. Gadis came to the ship, with her love she swept the steer.

"My tree please help me. Move and sail! All people want to see you sailing to the ocean". Every people saw and waited what was going happen. The ship moved one inch to one inch and go to the ocean slowly. People who saw it yelling happily. And the man who was very happy was the King himself. He asked , "How could you make this ship sail?" "By the God bless, Your Honest. The ship was made from wood of my friend, the old big tree", answered Gadis politely. Gadis told King all her life. The heart of King was touched, because he did not have a child he adopted Gadis as a princess.

Source : Djohar NRD, Bobo Magazine, translated by Yeffry HP

The letter order from the king

Long time ago, there were two minister in the royal palace, minister Sarotama and minister Tegapati. They had the same duty. However, the character of them were very contradiction. Tegapati was disliked by many people because his rudeness. It seem that the King was more like Sarotama because he had good ability. Tegapati become very jealous, He tried hard to make Sarotama name badly so the King would hate Sarotama.

One day, Tegapati ordered his dependable men to take a jewellery of The King, He hid that jewellery at Sarotama house, no one in that house knew what he has done. He planned to make Sarotama accused as a thief. And so Sarotama was being accused when a box full with jewellery found in his house by the guard who searched in every house.

Sarotama could not approve himself not guilty because all evident were pointed to him. So The King became very angry and believed that Sarotama was guilty. He ordered Sarotama to deliver a secret letter order to the executioner . The letter ordered the executioner to cut off every body head who delivered the letter. The punishment place were 4 km from the royal palace, so Sarotama might come to his house and take his best horse.

When he arrived at his house, all neighbours have prepared the last ceremony for say good bye to Sarotama. Tegapati were there too. He reminded Sarotama how was important the King letter. "So, do you think the letter order from the King is more important than a bowl of rice?" said Tegapati from the back of his horse. Tegapati did not know what was the letter told about, He though the letter should be the important letter that delivered as the last honourable duty of Sarotama before he deserved the punishment.

"I am very sorry, my neighbours is like my family. I will send this letter immediately after I finished my last ceremony. "Asked Sarotama politely. "Where is the letter? I can deliver it for you". Said Tegapati. Tegapati planned to deliver the letter and told the King that Sarotama has disobeyed the King order. "So the King will give the punishment more hard to Sarotama", though Tegapati.

Sarotama did not agree, the letter would be delivered by himself. Suddenly, Tegapati snatched the letter and ran his horse fast.

When Tegapati came to the address written in the letter. He was very surprised when he knew what is in the letter told about The letter told executioner to cut every body head off who delivered the letter". "You must be misunderstand, it was not me". Tegapati tried to explain that Sarotama who was deserved. "Don’t try to deny!" said the executioner. He told his man to tie Tegapati and when the sun is up. Tegapati was lost his head from his neck.

Source: Kawanku magazine, translated by Yeffry HP

Writing Your Story Tips on How to Write Children’s Stories

Here are the elements that editors, reviewers, and to some extent readers will look for in your story. Take them as general guidelines. Good writers often break rules—but they know when they’re doing it!

Theme

A theme is an insight or viewpoint or concept that a story conveys. If an editor says your story is “slight,” this may mean you have no significant theme.
Don’t blurt out your theme. Let it emerge from the story. If you must come out and say it, do it in dialog, not narration.
Avoid preaching. Children’s stories should be explorations of life—not Sunday school lessons.
Keep your theme positive. If writing about a social problem, offer constructive ways for your readers to deal with it.

Plot
Plot is normally built around a conflict involving the main character—for instance, with another character, or with circumstances, or within him- or herself. A story may succeed without conflict—especially if for preschoolers—but not without another device to hold attention.

Conflict often takes the form of a problem the main character must resolve. The character should succeed or fail at least in part through his or her own efforts. Most often—especially in realistic fiction—the character learns or grows in the process. The lesson or growth conveys the theme.

The conflict should result in increasing dramatic tension, which peaks or “climaxes” towards the end, then resolves.
The basic sequence of plot stages is: arrival of conflict, initial success of the main character, reversals, final victory, and outcome. The success-reversal sequence may repeat.

A novel may have several conflicts, but a short story or picture book should have only one.
Move the plot forward with events and action, rather than with internal musings. Show, don’t tell.

Story Structure
At the beginning, jump right into the action. At the end, bring the story to a prompt close.
Keep the structure as simple as possible. In a picture book, keep the action in chronological order without “flashbacks” (insertions of earlier scenes).

For a picture book story, make sure you have enough “scenes” (locations) to provide variety in the illustrations. For a magazine story, on the other hand, don’t have too many, as space limits the number that can be illustrated. The number of scenes determines whether a story is best suited to a picture book or a magazine.

For your narration, make the best choice for your story between “first person” and “third person.” In first person, the story is told by one of its characters—“I did this.” In third person, it’s told as if by an outside observer—“They did that.” First person is popular with middle-grade and young-adult readers as it creates instant intimacy and can convey lively wit and emotion. But it can confuse younger listeners, so it should seldom be used in early picture books. Third person is fine for any age, and permits the writer more sophisticated language and observations.

Whether in first or third person, the story should generally be told through the eyes of a single character—usually the main character. This is called “point of view.” Sudden shifts in the story’s point of view can jolt and disorient the reader. To keep it consistent, narrate only what your chosen character would know and nothing he or she wouldn’t—for example, other people’s thoughts, or something out of sight. If you do need to switch to a different point of view, set up a separate section or chapter for it.

Characters
Before you start writing, know your characters thoroughly.
Your main character should be someone the reader can identify and/or sympathize with. He or she should be near the top age of your intended readers. (One exception is in folktales.)
Identify your characters with one or more telling details—a physical trait, a mannerism, a favorite phrase. A complete description is not needed.

Setting
Set your story in a place and time that will be interesting or familiar.

Style and Tone
Write simply and directly, in short words, short sentences, short paragraphs.
Use dialog wherever possible. Use direct quotes instead of indirect. (Example: “Go away!” instead of “He told her to go away.”) Aim to make dialog at least one-third of your story.
Avoid big chunks of narration—especially description. Often you can split it into smaller pieces, or convey information in dialog. (Example: “I like your purple hair.”)
Use language that creates an atmosphere or “tone” suited to your story.
For younger children, use poetic devices like rhythm, repetition, alliteration (“Peter Piper picked a peck”), and rhyme—though generally not in verse.
Avoid being cutesy or sweet or sentimental or condescending.

By Aaron Shepard

Wake up late

This day Gobi’s behaviour is very strange. He shouts noisily like a mistune trumpet. His feet kick the ground and make unhappy noise. He grasps the sand and throws it to the air. Koli , his elephant neighbour feel worry, He wonders what has going on with Gobi. Everyone knew Gobi as a friendly and cheerful elephant.

"Auw’, shouted Koli when a cup of sand came over his face. Fortunately, the sand didn’t come into his eyes. "Please stop Gobi! Why are you so angry in this early morning?"

"Morning? It has been so late to say morning" Gobi grumbled. "You are acting like Mr. Laju, He has not come yet to bath my body." "Come down, He will come soon", Koli persuaded him. "Look there is many wrinkled on my skin because the hard sunning, Usually I have take a bath in this time!".

"Come down, please don’t angry anymore Mr. Laju will come soon, trust me" said Koli. Not long, There is Mr. Laju comes in hurry. "Oho, ho, ho, I am very sorry Gobi. I woke up late in this morning, I showed wayang golek last night so I slept late. (wayang golek = a kind of traditional puppet, very familiar in West Java Province).

Gobi starred at him, he looks understand that Mr. Laju was trying to persuade him. Mr. Laju understood why Gobi acted strangely. He knew Gobi behaviour because he has take care him since Gobi arrived to that zoo. " Let’s take a bath" said Mr. Laju. Gobi followed him, however, when they came to the pool. Gobi catches around Mr. Laju hip with his trunk and brought him highly. He immersed Mr. Laju to the pool and brought him highly again. "Gleg, gleg" in this time Mr. Laju has to swallow the water pool. "Let me down Gobi" shouted Mr. Laju.

After lose his anger. Gobi free his trunk from Mr. Laju hip. "You are very naughty in this day, Gobi! And look my breathing almost broken, you must not do it again such naughty manned. " said Mr. Laju. He breathed deeply to relief his painful.
Gobi shouted again, but his shout sounds very nice as he want to say" Don’t ever try to get late again Mr. Laju".

Sh, Bobo Magazine, translated by Yeffry HP

The Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Grimm's Fairy Tale version - translated by Margaret Hunt - language modernized a bit by Leanne Guenther

Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen ruled over a distant land. The queen was kind and lovely and all the people of the realm adored her. The only sadness in the queen's life was that she wished for a child but did not have one.

One winter day, the queen was doing needle work while gazing out her ebony window at the new fallen snow. A bird flew by the window startling the queen and she pricked her finger. A single drop of blood fell on the snow outside her window. As she looked at the blood on the snow she said to herself, "Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony."

Soon after that, the kind queen got her wish when she gave birth to a baby girl who had skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony. They named the baby princess Snow White, but sadly, the queen died after giving birth to Snow White.

Soon after, the king married a new woman who was beautiful, but as well proud and cruel. She had studied dark magic and owned a magic mirror, of which she would daily ask,

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?.

Each time this question was asked, the mirror would give the same answer, "Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all." This pleased the queen greatly as she knew that her magical mirror could speak nothing but the truth.

One morning when the queen asked, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" she was shocked when it answered:

You, my queen, are fair; it is true.

But Snow White is even fairer than you.

The Queen flew into a jealous rage and ordered her huntsman to take Snow White into the woods to be killed. She demanded that the huntsman return with Snow White's heart as proof.

The poor huntsman took Snow White into the forest, but found himself unable to kill the girl. Instead, he let her go, and brought the queen the heart of a wild boar.

Snow White was now all alone in the great forest, and she did not know what to do. The trees seemed to whisper to each other, scaring Snow White who began to run. She ran over sharp stones and through thorns. She ran as far as her feet could carry her, and just as evening was about to fall she saw a little house and went inside in order to rest.

Inside the house everything was small but tidy. There was a little table with a tidy, white tablecloth and seven little plates. Against the wall there were seven little beds, all in a row and covered with quilts.

Because she was so hungry Snow White ate a few vegetables and a little bread from each little plate and from each cup she drank a bit of milk. Afterward, because she was so tired, she lay down on one of the little beds and fell fast asleep.

After dark, the owners of the house returned home. They were the seven dwarves who mined for gold in the mountains. As soon as they arrived home, they saw that someone had been there -- for not everything was in the same order as they had left it.

The first one said, "Who has been sitting in my chair?"

The second one, "Who has been eating from my plate?"

The third one, "Who has been eating my bread?"

The fourth one, "Who has been eating my vegetables?"

The fifth one, "Who has been eating with my fork?"

The sixth one, "Who has been drinking from my cup?"

But the seventh one, looking at his bed, found Snow White lying there asleep. The seven dwarves all came running up, and they cried out with amazement. They fetched their seven candles and shone the light on Snow White.

"Oh good heaven! " they cried. "This child is beautiful!"

They were so happy that they did not wake her up, but let her continue to sleep in the bed. The next morning Snow White woke up, and when she saw the seven dwarves she was frightened. But they were friendly and asked, "What is your name?"

"My name is Snow White," she answered.

"How did you find your way to our house?" the dwarves asked further.

Then she told them that her stepmother had tried to kill her, that the huntsman had spared her life, and that she had run the entire day through the forest, finally stumbling upon their house.

The dwarves spoke with each other for awhile and then said, "If you will keep house for us, and cook, make beds, wash, sew, and knit, and keep everything clean and orderly, then you can stay with us, and you shall have everything that you want."

"Yes," said Snow White, "with all my heart." For Snow White greatly enjoyed keeping a tidy home.

So Snow White lived happily with the dwarves. Every morning they went into the mountains looking for gold, and in the evening when they came back home Snow White had their meal ready and their house tidy. During the day the girl was alone, except for the small animals of the forest that she often played with.

Now the queen, believing that she had eaten Snow White's heart, could only think that she was again the first and the most beautiful woman of all. She stepped before her mirror and said:

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,

Who in this land is fairest of all?

It answered:

You, my queen, are fair; it is true.

But Snow White, beyond the mountains

With the seven dwarves,

Is still a thousand times fairer than you.

This startled the queen, for she knew that the mirror did not lie, and she realized that the huntsman had deceived her and that Snow White was still alive. Then she thought, and thought again, how she could rid herself of Snow White -- for as long as long as she was not the most beautiful woman in the entire land her jealousy would give her no rest.

At last she thought of something. She went into her most secret room -- no one else was allowed inside -- and she made a poisoned apple. From the outside it was beautiful, and anyone who saw it would want it. But anyone who might eat a little piece of it would died. Coloring her face, she disguised herself as an old peddler woman, so that no one would recognize her, traveled to the dwarves house and knocked on the door.

Snow White put her head out of the window, and said, "I must not let anyone in; the seven dwarves have forbidden me to do so."

"That is all right with me," answered the peddler woman. "I'll easily get rid of my apples. Here, I'll give you one of them."

"No," said Snow White, "I cannot accept anything from strangers."
"Are you afraid of poison?" asked the old woman. "Look, I'll cut the apple in two. You eat half and I shall eat half."

Now the apple had been so artfully made that only the one half was poisoned. Snow White longed for the beautiful apple, and when she saw that the peddler woman was eating part of it she could no longer resist, and she stuck her hand out and took the poisoned half. She barely had a bite in her mouth when she fell to the ground dead.

The queen looked at her with an evil stare, laughed loudly, and said, "White as snow, red as blood, black as ebony wood! The dwarves shall never awaken you."

Back at home she asked her mirror:

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,

Who in this land is fairest of all?

It finally answered:

You, my queen, are fairest of all.

Then her cruel and jealous heart was at rest, as well as a cruel and jealous heart can be at rest.

When the dwarves came home that evening they found Snow White lying on the ground. She was not breathing at all. She was dead. They lifted her up and looked at her longingly. They talked to her, shook her and wept over her. But nothing helped. The dear child was dead, and she remained dead. They laid her on a bed of straw, and all seven sat next to her and mourned for her and cried for three days. They were going to bury her, but she still looked as fresh as a living person, and still had her beautiful red cheeks.

They said, "We cannot bury her in the black earth," and they had a transparent glass coffin made, so she could be seen from all sides. They laid her inside, and with golden letters wrote on it her name, and that she was a princess. Then they put the coffin outside on a mountain, and one of them always stayed with it and watched over her. The animals too came and mourned for Snow White, first an owl, then a raven, and finally a dove.

Now it came to pass that a prince entered these woods and happened onto the dwarves' house, where he sought shelter for the night . He saw the coffin on the mountain with beautiful Snow White in it, and he read what was written on it with golden letters.

Then he said to the dwarves, "Let me have the coffin. I will give you anything you want for it."

But the dwarves answered, "We will not sell it for all the gold in the world."

Then he said, "Then give it to me, for I cannot live without being able to see Snow White. I will honor her and respect her as my most cherished one."

As he thus spoke, the good dwarves felt pity for him and gave him the coffin. The prince had his servants carry it away on their shoulders. But then it happened that one of them stumbled on some brush, and this dislodged from Snow White's throat the piece of poisoned apple that she had bitten off. Not long afterward she opened her eyes, lifted the lid from her coffin, sat up, and was alive again.

"Good heavens, where am I?" she cried out.

The prince said joyfully, "You are with me." He told her what had happened, and then said, "I love you more than anything else in the world. Come with me to my father's castle. You shall become my wife." Snow White loved him, and she went with him. Their wedding was planned with great splendor and majesty.

Snow White's wicked step-mother was invited to the feast, and when she had arrayed herself in her most beautiful garments, she stood before her mirror, and said:

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,

Who in this land is fairest of all?

The mirror answered:

You, my queen, are fair; it is true.

But the young queen is a thousand times fairer than you.

Not knowing that this new queen was indeed her stepdaughter, she arrived at the wedding, and her heart filled with the deepest of dread when she realized the truth - the evil queen was banished from the land forever and the prince and Snow White lived happily ever after.