The Golden Goose :

Once there lived an old man in a village. He had three sons. The youngest
was named Somu. He was despised and slighted and ignored on every occasion.
One day the eldest son wished to go into the forest to hew wood His mother gave
him a fine package of food with potatoes. Just as he got into the forest, he met a
grey old man who bade him good-day and said, "Give me a little food of your
package and a little water to drink for I am very hungry and thirsty.

The prudent youth, however, would not, saying, "If I give you my food and water,
I shall have nothing left for myself. No pack-off!" and he left the man there and
went onwards. He now began to hew down a tree. But he had not made many
strokes before he missed his aim and the axe cut into his arm so deeply that he was
forced to go home and have it dressed. But this wound came from the little old
man.

Afterwards, the second son went into the forest and the mother gave him as she
had given the eldest a package of food with potatoes and water to drink. The same
little old man met him also and requested for a little food of his package and a little
water to drink. But he likewise refused and said, "If I give you my food. I cannot
have anything for myself. Go away. Take yourself off!" And so speaking, he left
the old man there and went onwards. His reward, however, soon came for when he
had made two strokes at the tree he cut his own leg and so he had to return home.

Then Somu asked his father to let him go and hew wood. But his father said,
"Noyour brothers have harmed themselves in doing so and so will you, for you
do not understand anything about it."
But Somu begged and prayed so long that his father at last said, "Well, then go and
you will become prudent through experience."
His mother gave him stale food with dry potatoes and some water to drink.
As he entered the forest the same grey old man greeted him and asked, "Give me
some food and a little water to drink for I am hungry and thirsty."

Somu answered, "I have only stale food with dry potatoes and a little water to
drink. The food is burnt. If you like to share it with me, let us sit down and eat."
They sat down and as soon as Somu took out his food. Oh! It was changed into a
fine delicious food and the dry potatoes became so nice to taste.

They ate the food and drank the water and when they finished, the little old man
said, "Because you have a good heart and have willingly shared what you had, I
will make you lucky. There stands an old tree, cut it down and you will find
something at the roots.

After saying so, the little old man took leave. Somu went directly and cut down the
tree and when it fell, there sat amongst the roots a goose which had feathers of pure
gold. He took it up and carried it with him to an inn where he planned to spend the
night. The landlord had three daughters who as soon as they saw the goose were
very covetous of such a wonderful bird, at least to have but one of its feathers. The
eldest girl thought she would watch for an opportunity to pluck out one and just as
Somu was going out, she caught hold of one of the wings. But her finger and
thumb stuck there and she could not move.

Soon came the second daughter, desiring to pluck out a feather, but scarcely had
she touched her sister when she also stuck to her sister.
At last the third also came with like intention and the others exclaimed, "Keep
away! For heavens sake dont touch us!"
But she did not see why she should and thought, The others are there, why should
I not be too? and springing up to them, she touched her sister and at once was
made to stick fast so they had to pass the night with the goose.

The next morning Somu took the goose under his arm and went out without
troubling himself about the three girls who were still hanging on and who were
obliged to keep on the run behind him. In the middle of the field the parson met
them and when he saw the procession he cried out, "Oh! what a shame! You good-
for-nothing wenches! Why are you running after that young man across the fields
for? Come on, stop this stupid thing!"

Saying so, he took the youngest girl by the hand and tried to pull her away. But as
soon as he touched her he also stuck fast and was forced to follow in the train.
Soon after came the clerk and saw his master, the parson following in the footsteps
of the three girls.

The sight astonished him much and he called, "Hello, master! Where are you going
so quickly? Have you forgotten that there is a wedding today?" and he ran up to
him and caught him by the dhoti. The clerk also could not release himself and so
there tramped the five, one behind the other, till they met two countrymen
returning with their hatchets in their hands. The parson called out to them and
begged them to come and release him and the clerk. But no sooner had they
touched the clerk than they stuck fast to him and so now there were seven all in a
row following behind Somu and the golden goose. By and by he came into a city
where the king had a daughter so seriously inclined that no one could make her
laugh. So, he had made a law that whoever causes her to laugh would have her as
wife.
Now, when Somu heard this, he went with his goose and all his train before the
princess and as soon as she saw these seven poor creatures continuing on the trot
behind one another, she began to laugh so heartily as if she was never going to
cease. Somu thereupon demanded his bride. But his intended son-in-law did not
please the king who, after a variety of excuses, at last said that he must bring a man
who would drink a drum full of water. Somu immediately thought of the little old
man who would no doubt be able to help him. Then he went into the forest to the
same spot where he had cut the tree, he saw a man sitting very gloomily.

Somu asked him why he looked sad and he answered, "I have such a great thirst
and cannot quench it."
Somu was astonished on hearing this. He said. I can help you. Come with me and
you shall quench your thirst."

He led him into the king's palace and the man drank and drank a drum full of water
till his stomach swelled. Before the day was out he had emptied the drum. Somu
now demanded his bride again, but the king was vexed that such an ugly fellow
whom everyone called dumb Somu should marry his daughter and he set a new
condition that he must first find a man who could eat a whole mountain of food.
Somu did not consider long, but set off into the forest where, on the same spot as
before, sat a man who was strapping his body round with a leather strap and all the
while making a sad face and saying. "I have eaten so much of foodbut what use
is that when one has such a hunger as I? My stomach remains empty still and I
must strap myself to prevent my dying of hunger!"

At these words Somu was glad and said, "Get up and come with me and you shall
eat enough to satisfy yourself.
He led him to the royal palace where the king had collected all the meal. The man
began to eat and towards sunset the whole mountain of food had vanished.

Somu, then for the third time, demanded his bride, but the king began again to
make fresh excuses and desired a ship which could travel both on land and water.
"If you return with such a ship, you shall marry my daughter", said the king.

Somu went, as before, straight into the forest and there he met the little old man to
whom he had given the food. When Somu said what he wanted, the old man gave
him the ship which could travel on both land and water. Then he turned Somu into
a handsome youth. The old man said to Somu, "Since I shared your food, I give
you the ship and all this I do because you are good natured."

As soon as the king saw Somu so handsome and the ship, he could no longer keep
back his daughter and the wedding was celebrated. Somus parents and brothers
came and asked Somu to forgive them. Somu had forgiven them and after the
king's death he inherited the kingdom and lived for a long time contentedly with
his wife.

MORAL : One who is good at heart will win a priceless gift.

 A very good morning to honourable judges , teachers and my fellow friends.
Today , I would like to tell you a story about , The apple tree and a boy!

Very long ago, there lived a huge apple tree offering tasty apples to the people. A
little boy became close friend to the apple tree. The boy used to play with the
tree, climb the branches, sleep under the shadow and pluck apples. Every day he
visited the tree, and ate apples. The apple tree was so kind to the boy and enjoyed
spending time with the little boy.

The boy joined school and could not spend any time with the apple tree. After
several months the boy came to the apple tree. The tree was so happy to see the
boy and asked him to play with it.

The boy said that he was not a little one to play with the trees. But he had another
request to the tree.

The tree asked what he wanted. The boy said that he needed toys to play, but his
parents did not have sufficient money to buy toys for him.

The tree replied, Dear boy, I do not have any money to buy toys for you, but you
can pick the apples, sell them, get money and buy the toys you need.

The apple tree was eagerly waiting to see the boy return. The boy went happily
after plucking apples, but never returned for several years.

The tree was so sad and it did not produce any apples thereafter.

After almost 10 years, the boy returned to the apple tree as a youngster. The apple
tree immediately recognized the boy and was happy to see him. The tree asked
him to play again.

The boy said, Im sorry I dont have time to play with you as I have to work. We
are building new home and need some wood for it. Can you please help me?

The apple tree replied, Oh my dear boy, please cut my branches and get the
needed quantity of wood, as much as you want.

The boy started to cut the branches of the tree and left the place. After several
years, the boy returned as a middle aged man to the tree. The tree, which was
waiting for years to see the boy, was quite delighted.

The apple tree asked, Can you play with me now?

The boy, who is now an aged man replied, Im old now and I want to relax
myself from heavy work. I need a boat to sail to various places. Can you help
me?

The apple tree replied, Oh my dear boy, I dont have a boat for you, but you can
cut my trunk and make a boat.
The man cut the trunk of the tree and made the boat. He happily sailed to various
places but never returned to the tree again, which now has only the roots!

After two decades, the boy returned to the tree as an old man.

The tree recognized him and told, Oh my dear boy, now I have nothing to give to
you!

The old man said, Hmmmm..I just need rest, just give me a place

The apple tree replied, Come on my dear, take rest in my roots! Good old roots
are the best place to have peace and rest!

The man smiled with tears!

This is a life story of every individual. When we are young, we need the
support of the parents. As we grow old, we ignore them and never care for
them, but seek help from parents only when we need any help! Finally, when
we become parents and aged, we understand how great the parents are!
Whatever may be the condition, parents are always ready to help their
children.

Thank you.