Extensive Reading in English Short Stories Contents The Greedy Dog p. 2 The Donkey and the Horse p. 3 The Sleepy Teacher p. 4 The End p. 4 The Iron Box p. 5 The Ugly Tree p. 6 Reward for Bravery p. 7 Example Report p. 8 1
The Greedy Dog Once there lived a dog. He was very greedy. There were many times that he had to pay for his greed. Each time the dog promised himself, I have learnt my lesson. Now I will never be greedy again. But he soon forgot his promises and was as greedy as ever. One afternoon, the dog was terribly hungry. He decided to go look for something to eat. Just outside his house, there was a bridge. I will go and look for food on the other side of the bridge. The food there is definitely better, he thought to himself. He walked across the wooden bridge and started sniffing around for food. Suddenly, he spotted a bone lying at a distance. Ah, I am in luck. This looks a delicious bone, he said. Without wasting any time, the hungry dog picked up the bone and was just about to eat it, when he thought, Somebody might see here with this bone and then I will have to share it with them. So, I had better go home and eat it. Holding the bone in his mouth, he ran towards his house. While crossing the wooden bridge, the dog looked down into the river. There he saw his own reflection. The foolish dog mistook it for another dog. There is another dog in the water with bone in its mouth, he thought. Greedy, as he was, he thought, How nice it would be to snatch that piece of bone as well. Then, I will have two bones. So, the greedy dog looked at his reflection and growled. The reflection growled back, too. This made the dog angry. He looked down at his reflection and barked, Woof! Woof! As he opened his mouth, the bone in his mouth fell into the river. It was only when the water splashed that the greedy dog realized that what he had seen was nothing but his own reflections and not another dog. But it was too late. He had lost the piece of bone because of his greed. Now he had to go hungry. 2
The Donkey and the Horse Once, there lived a washer man named Bheema. He had a donkey and a horse. The donkey carried clothes to the pond and back to his house. The horse carried Bheema to the market and back, occasionally. The donkey worked much harder than the horse. On a bright sunny day, Bheema was going to the pond with donkey. He took the horse along to give it a drink of water. The donkey was carrying a heavy load of clothes. The horse was carrying nothing. The load was unusually heavy and the donkey s back was hurting. When the pain became unbearable the donkey said to the horse, This load is too much for me, brother! Please take some of this load on your back. The horse replied some what rudely, Eh! Why should I? I am here only to carry our master to the market. The proud horse continued on his way. The day was getting hotter as the day went on. The donkey felt totally exhausted. He was almost dragging himself. Humph! Humph! The donkey tried to move. He just could not. The poor donkey collapsed to the ground. Oh! What has happened to the poor donkey? thought the washer man. Immediately he took the load off the donkey. Indeed the load is really very heavy. I should have been little more careful, thought the washer man. Then he gave some water to the donkey. The donkey felt better now. The washer man then picked up the bundle of clothes off the back of the donkey and placed it on the horse s back. Umf! Umf! Came the sound from the horse s mouth. I should have helped the donkey. I made a mistake. I should have taken half the load when the donkey requested me. Now I realize sharing a burden is easier. The horse carried the heavy load of clothes for the remaining distance. There after both the donkey and the horse lived together. 3
The Sleepy Teacher A schoolteacher used to take a short nap every afternoon. When his pupils asked him why he did so, he said that he went to dreamland to meet ancient sages. One extremely hot day some of the pupils fell asleep in the afternoon. When the school-teacher chided them, they said, "We went to meet the sages in dreamland." "What did they say?" demanded the teacher. "We asked them if a school- teacher came there every afternoon, but they said they had seen no such person." The End A young student of Zen happened to break a precious vase belonging to his teacher. When he heard his teacher's footsteps, he quickly held the broken vase behind him. As the teacher walked up to him, he asked, "Why does one die, master?" "It's natural," said the teacher. "Everything has a beginning and an end. Everything has just so long to live and then has to die." The student held out the pieces of the broken vase and said, "The time for your vase to die had come." 4
The Iron Box Mohan Das was the son of a rich businessman. When his father died, Mohan Das was left with an iron box with valuables in it. One day, Mohan Das had to go to the city on some work. So, he took the iron box and handed it over to his moneylender friend. His name was Ramasewak. Please keep this box. My father gave it to me. I will return from city after few days and collect it from you, said Mohan Das to Ramasewak. You do not have to worry. I will keep this box safely, said Ramasewak. Mohan Das started off his journey happily. He knew that his valuable iron box was safe with Ramasewak. A few days later he returned. He went to his friend Ramasewak and asked for the iron box. Ramasewak pretended to look a little surprised, Oh, the iron box! The rats ate it up. I just could not stop them, he said. Mohan Das realized that his friend had become greedy and dishonest. Ramasewak was trying to cheat him. Being an intelligent man, he kept quite. I must figure out a way to get my iron box back from Ramasewak, thought Mohan Das. Next day, Mohan Das went to Ramasewak and said, Friend! Can you send your son with me? I need someone to look after my property. Ramasewak thought for a while. He brooded. Mohan Das seems to be a fool. May be he will reward my son for looking after his property, thought Ramasewak. Then, immediately he agreed and sent his son with Mohan Das. Next morning, Mohan Das came running to Ramasewak and said, Dear friend, a terrible thing has happened. A hawk has carried your son away. Ramasewak was furious and demanded, How can a hawk carry off my son? In the same way as the rats can eat up the iron box, answered Mohan Das. I am sorry, my friend. I realize my mistake, Ramasewak said with a bit of concern in his voice. He felt ashamed of having tried to cheat his friend. He gave the box back to his friend. Both of them were happy and remained good friends forever. 5
The Ugly Tree Long, long ago, in a dense forest there were thousands of tall and beautiful trees. They were happy, but proud of themselves. Among them there also an ugly tree whose branches were badly twisted. Its roots had uneven curves. All the trees made fun of that ugly tree. How are you, hunchback? the other trees always shouted and their laughter made the ugly tree feel sad. But, he never raised a voice against them. The ugly tree thought, I wish I were as beautiful as the other trees. Why did God do this to me? Neither can I provide shade to the travelers not can the birds make their nests on me. Nobody needs me. One day, a woodcutter came to the forest. He took a look at the trees and said, These trees are lovely. I must cut them. As soon as he picked up his axe the trees became frightened. Chop, Chop, Chop went the woodcutter s axe and one by one the trees started to fall. None of us is going to be spared, screamed one of the beautiful trees. Soon that tree too was brought to ground by the woodcutter s axe. By now, the woodcutter had come near to the ugly tree. He had just raised his axe when suddenly he noticed how crooked the ugly tree was. Hmm! This crooked tree seems to be useless for me. I cannot make long straight logs of this ugly tree, he thought. And he moved towards another beautiful tree. The ugly tree heaved a huge sigh of relief. He realized that by making him ugly, God had actually given him a boon. From that day the ugly tree never complained. He was happy with his crooked branches. He never forgot how he was spared from the woodcutter s axe, only because he was crooked and ugly. 6
Reward for Bravery There was once a kind Duke. He was loved and respected by his subjects. This Duke had a wicked brother. His name was Frederick. Frederick rebelled against his brother. He drove away the Duke. The Duke was a peace loving person. He left the Dukedom. He went to the forest called Arden. His followers also went with him. There he led a peaceful life with his followers. Frederick became the Duke. The Duke had a daughter. Her name was Rosalind. Frederick also had a daughter. Her name was Celia. Rosalind and Celia were fond each other from their childhood. Celia wanted Rosalind to be with her in the palace. Frederick allowed Rosalind to be in the palace with his daughter. This was for the sake of his own daughter, Celia. Sir Rowland De Boys was friend of the elder Duke who was in the forest. Sir Rowland died leaving all his property to his eldest son whose name was Oliver. Oliver was jealous of his younger brother whose name was Orlando. Oliver did not give any part of the property or money to Orlando. He did not even educate Orlando either. In Duke Frederick s court, there was a powerful wrestler. His name was Charles. No young man dared to challenge Charles. But Orlando accepted the challenge. Oliver met Charles secretly. He instructed Charles to do the worst to Orlando. At the wrestling place there were many people. Duke Frederick was also there. In the earlier matches Charles threw little challengers one after another. All the three challengers had broken their ribs. They were struggling for life. Celia and Rosalind also had come there. Duke Frederick asked the girls to talk to the young man, Orlando. Frederick had felt that Charles would throw Orlando down in the fight. The girls approached Orlando. They requested him not to fight. Orlando refused gently. He said, I have no one to care for me. I do not care even to die. The match began. Orlando was much stronger than Charles. Orlando lifted Charles above his shoulders. Then he threw him down. Charles became unconscious after falling. Frederick and all others were happy. They congratulated Orlando. Orlando told Frederick, I am the second son of late Sir Rowland de Boys. Frederick did not like Orlando from that minute onwards, because Frederick had not liked Sir Rowland de Boys. The two girls on the contrary praised Orlando. Rosalind was happy. Sit Rowland had been her father s friend. She then took out a chain from her neck and presented it to Orlando. This was the reward for his bravery. 7
Sample Report 1. Hello. 2. My name is Matthew. 3. I read Momotaro. 4. It is an adventure story about a boy born from a peach. 5. His parents had no children until the day they found a giant peach, and out of it came Momotaro. They were very happy. 6. He was a very good boy and strong as well. 7. One day he heard about some demons (oni) that were causing trouble. 8. He decided to go and stop them. 9. His parents gave him some sweets. 10. Along the way he met a monkey, a bird, and a dog. He shared his sweets with each of them and they became friends. 11. Together they defeated the demons. 12. I enjoyed this story. It was funny and entertaining. 13. It is a good story for children 14. Thank you. Hello. My name is Matthew. I read Momotaro. It is an adventure story about a boy born from a peach. His parents had no children until the day they found a giant peach, and out of it came Momotaro. They were very happy. He was a very good boy and strong as well. One day he heard about some demons (oni) that were causing trouble. He decided to go and stop them. His parents gave him some sweets. Along the way he met a monkey, a bird, and a dog. He shared his sweets with each of them and they became friends. Together they defeated the demons. I enjoyed this story. It was funny and entertaining. It is a good story for children. Thank you. 8