56. The King
and the Old Woman
Once a king desired
anyone who had seen God in his lifetime be brought before him. After some time
a very old woman was brought before the king. The king asked her, “Did you see
God yourself?” She said, “Yes.” Then the king asked her if she remembered any
narration from Him. Then she replied, “When old age comes two things become
young-one is hope and the other is greed.” The king thanked her and gave her
one hundred dinars. The woman thanked the king and went away. Half the way some
thought passed through her mind and she desired to be brought before the king
once more. When again she was brought, the king asked, “Why did you come back?”
She said, “I just came to inquire whether the monies you gave me were once for
all or is it to continue every year?” The king thought, 'How true God's words
are! She had hope of life even now and she had greed for money too. The king
said, “Don't worry; you will be paid every year.” She was taken a back but on
the way she breathed her last.
Moral: Too much greed leads to
one's downfall.
TAGS: language development in children, Inspirational Moral Stories, very short stories with morals, stories to read for kids.