WORTH READING 5 Sep 2006

The Cow And The Merchant

This is a story from India during the colonial days. Most of the
villagers of the village worked as peasants for the village landlord and
got a very small share of the crops and a token money in return for the
hard work they put all day in the field.

One year the village witnessed one of the severest droughts ever. The
crop failed and the villagers did not get anything in return from the
landlord. Most of the villagers fled to the cities.

One of the villagers was particularly in a very bad state. His wife was
suffering from malaria and in the absence of food or money he was
desperate.

One day he was sitting under the village tree and was thinking
desperately about ways to get some money somehow so that he can take his
wife and his children to the town, where he knew that somehow he would
get some work.

He then saw his cow wandering nearby munching the dried up patches of
grass and bushes.

He suddenly had a thought to sell his cow. Surely someone would like to
buy her, he thought.

The next day, early morning he started for the market. There, he stood
under a tree and explained his plight to anyone who came and requested
them to buy his cow. Nobody seemed to be the least interested.

The day wore by. The sun relentlessly shown on the barren landscape.
With sweat drenched dirty clothes and in the poor state of health he was
in, he was looking a picture of the misery.

As evening was approaching, he was losing all hope he had started with.
Then a merchant passed him. He looked at the peasant and with a sudden
drive of compassion decided to help him sell the cow.

He asked a few questions and then, in a loud voice full of enthusiasm,
he announced to the passers by, Ladies and gentlemen, never let go an
opportunity like this. This cow here, gives 2 bucketfuls of milk
everyday, morning and evening. Do not be mistaken by her health. It is
just because she has recently given birth to a young calf.

This animal is of such an exceptional breed that last year she had won a
prize during the agricultural exhibition of the neighboring village. My
friend here, has come to an urgent situation and is willing to part with
her for a price that seems to me ridiculous for such a prize animal. Who
amongst you realize that an opportunity like this does not come everyday

Meanwhile, a small crowd gathered around them all willing to buy the
animal. They all wanted to know the price. The merchant asked the
peasant, Well my friend, what is the price you expect We have several
buyers here.

The peasant stood up and with head held high, declared with pride and
arrogance, This animal is mine. She is too good to be sold. I shall keep
her.

This story has several morals. The first is that we do not appreciate
sufficiently what we have. Health, children, girl friend or boy friend
etc, we take them all for granted without rejoicing each day for our
luck.

Sometimes it is necessary to have the look of others in order to become
conscious of the value of what we have.

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