Bedtime Stories for Kids - Two Moods of The King

Two Moods of The King


Once upon a time, there was a certain king. He was young and smart. One day he rode out for hunting. But just as he approached the forest he saw a lovely deer and chased it. The deer kept on running at high speed, often making sudden turns. The king's followers could not keep pace with their master. The king at last lost sight of the deer. By then he was feeling extremely thirsty. A small village attracted his attention. He led his horse towards it. The situation in the village was beautiful. The coolness of the shady trees refreshed the King. Upon entering the village, he dismounted before a farmer's house. There was nobody in the house excepting the farmer's young daughter. The girl greeted the king. The king felt happy and said that he was thirsty and that he would like to have something to drink as soon as possible. The girl made him sit and in a short while returned with a bowl filled to its brim with sugarcane juice. 


The king derived great satisfaction from drinking the juice. He thanked the girl and asked her how many sugarcanes she squeezed. "Only one," replied the girl. "Really?" That means the villagers here raise an excellent crop. Can you tell me how much they pay as tax to the king?" asked the guest. The girl happened to know the amount. She spoke it out. "Hm!" The king looked grave. He thought the amount to be quite low when compared with the rich kind of crops the villagers were enjoying. He thanked the girl again and hopped onto his horse. He roamed about for an hour or two in the area and felt more and more sure that the villagers were paying him less tax than they should. On his way back, he entered the village again. In fact, he was feeling a desire to meet the girl once more. "Before going away, I shall like to have another bowlful of juice," he told the girl, standing before her house. "Why not! I shall prepare the juice in a moment," said the girl and she entered her house.


The king waited. The girl returned a little late. The bowl she brought did not seem to be quite full. "You took more time than expected!" remarked the king. "True," said the girl shyly. "But why?" The girl kept quiet. But the king, eager to make her talk, urged on for a reply. At last, spoke the girl, "I had to squeeze several sugarcanes to bring out this much juice." "How is that? Only one sugarcane had given more juice than this a little while ago!" said the king, a bit surprised. "I am afraid, O honored guest, that the sugarcanes have behaved according to your mood. The first time, I believe you were feeling happy and grateful to be here, after a long journey. It gave you more juice. I cannot say what is in your mind now. But it seems you are not in the same mood," replied the girl. The king felt ashamed of himself. No more did he give any thought to enhancing the tax the village used to pay. Moreover, the memory of his meeting with the girl and her hospitality and her wisdom lingered in his mind. He married her. As the queen, she gave him much support in ruling the land in an ideal manner.

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