We are friends

Ram was a little town boy. During his school holidays he went to stay with his uncle in the country. His uncle had a big farm. He kept cows, sheep, hens and gees. He had also a dog and a cat.

Ram had never seen so many birds and animals together. He shouted at them to make them run away. He threw stones to frighten them. He chased them with a stick in his hand, so none of the birds or animals liked Ram

``What a proud boy!’’ they said to one another. ``He always shouts at us and chases us away. He also throws stones at us. Why is he so cruel to us?’’

``Shall we treat him in the same way?’’ said a cow with big horns. ``I could toss him easily’’.

``And I could bite him in the leg,’’ said the Dog.

``Well,’’ said a sheep, ``If we did that, he would hate us all the more. And hatred is a very cruel thing.’’

A calf mooed softly and said, ``Miss Sheep has said a very wise thing. Hatred only brings hatred. It would be better if we each Ram to love us’’.

`See, there he is in the corner of the field,’’ said the cat. ``He has fallen asleep under the tree. Let us go and talk to him.’’

So they all went to where Ram lay fast asleep. They stood round him in a semi-circle. The biggest cow mooed to wake Ram.

He opened his eyes and sat up.

``Ram, we are your friends,’’ mooed the big cow.

``Don’t be silly,’’ said Ram. ``How can you be my friend! You don’t do anything for me, do you?’’

``We do a lot of things for you,’’ said the cow. ``We give you so many presents’’.

``I don’t believe you, said Ram.

``Now listen,’’ said the cow,’’ I give you milk, cream, butter and cheese everyday. Don’t you think these are lovely presents?’’

`` I give you the wool for your warm clothes,’’ said a big sheep.

`` I guard your house,’’ said the dog. `` I keep foxes from the chickens. I also find your sheep when they are lost.’’

``And I lay eggs for your breakfast,’’ said a big brown hen. ``is not that friendly thing? Then why do you throw stones at us?

Ram was now of shame. `` I didn’t know you all do so much for me,’’ he said. `` I am really very sorry for behaving so badly,’’

``We give you so many presents; in return we want only a little food and shelter,’’ said the dog. ``We all want that you live like a friend with us.’’

`` I have been silly,’’ said ram, getting up. ``I did not know you were my friends. Please forgive me for my folly’’.

``Wise people are never cruel,’’ said the cow. `` It is only the stupid ones who are cruel.’’

``Yes, I have been stupid,’’ said Ram. ``But now I want to be friends with you’’.

``It is a good rule to be friendly to others,’’ said the dog. ``We are always friendly. We bite only when we know that the other one is an enemy. But we are always friendly first.’’

``I will be friendly too,’’ said ram. ``I will never chase you, or throw stones at you’’.

And now, you know. Ram is always kind and friendly to all birds and animals.