English Rhymes, Songs & Stories

The Impossible Task

2011-10-16T10:55:00.001-05:00

One day, the Emperor Akbar called Birbal to his palace.

"O Birbal, I want you to bring me a vessel of Ox's milk", he requested.

Birbal was startled by his unusual request, but he did not express it out.

"I shall get it for you, O Badshah! But I want a week's time", Birbal replied.

"All right", Akbar agreed and allowed Birbal to leave.

When it was evening, Birbal went home.

"The Emperor has asked for a vessel of Ox's milk and has given me a week's time. But it is an impossible task. What shall I do?" Birbal thought with dismay.

Birbal's wife noted her husband's worried look and asked him what was wrong.

"The Emperor has asked me to get him in a week a vessel of Ox's milk. I don't know what to do", Birbal told her.

To his great surprise, his wife began laughing loudly.

"What an easy task! I'll tell you what to do later. But first promise me not to leave the house for six days", she said.

"I promise!" Birbal agreed at once. He knew that his clever wife would help him out of the tricky situation somehow.

Five days passed by. On the sixth night, Birbal's wife left her home with a large bundle of clothes and went to the palace. She opened the bundle near the lake and began washing them one by one.

The Emperor was awakened by the noise.

"Who is washing clothes in the lake?" he wondered and went to the balcony for a look. He sent his sentries to fetch the person.

"Why are you washing clothes so late at night?" he asked Birbal's wife.

"O Badshah! six days ago my husband gave birth to a baby. Our maid-servant did not come for work. So I have to do all the work myself. I just finished the other works before washing the clothes" she replied.

"What are you saying!" Akbar exclaimed. "How can a man give birth to a baby?"

The woman smiled at the Emperor.

"It is not surprising at all! If you can ask for Ox's milk, why can't a man give birth to a baby?" she asked.

Akbar nodded his head as he understood the truth in her statement. A man could not give birth to a baby, just as an Ox could not give milk. He remembered the impossible task he had asked Birbal to perform.

The Emperor rewarded Birbal's wife with gifts and sent her home.

Vocabulary

1) Startled (Adj): Excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement.

Sen: Birbal was startled by his unusual request, but he did not express it out.

2) Dismay (N): The feeling of despair in the face of obstacles.

Sen: Birbal thought with dismay.

3) Sentry (N): A person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event.

Sen: He sent his sentries to fetch the person.

The Magic Sticks Of Birbal

2011-10-14T06:58:00.012-05:00

One day, the Emperor Akbar was holding his court. He had a separate hour when he listened to complaints made by the people.

A merchant entered the court one day with a serious complaint.

"O Badshah,I had kept a leather bag of gold mohurs safely locked in my almirah one night. But the next morning, I opened my almirah and found the bag of gold mohurs missing. I have 4 loyal servants. But I suspect that one of them has stolen the gold mohurs. They all say that they are innocent. If I beat even one of them to get the truth, the other 3 servants will leave their jobs. Please tell me how I can catch the thief without beating any of the 4 servants", he said.

"That is certainly a problem. For, the normal penal way is to beat each so that the real thief would confess. But that would mean resorting to physical violence which you do not want", the Emperor said thoughtfully. He looked at Birbal and remarked, "Birbal, I wish you to solve this case. Remember, that the real thief must be found without harming the innocent servants."

"It shall be as you wish, O Badshah! I will solve this case to your satisfaction as quickly as possible", Birbal replied.

Later that day, he summoned the four servants and questioned them. Each claimed to be innocent.

"It would have been better if the real thief had confessed. Now I will have to use my magic sticks to catch the thief", Birbal said with regret.

Birbal took out four sticks and gave one to each of the four servants.

"Don't think that these are ordinary sticks", he warned. "They have magical properties. I want each of you to keep the stick beside you at night. The person whose stick grows by 4 inches is the thief. Come back to me with the sticks tomorrow morning", Birbal said and sent the servants home.

Now, the real thief thought of a way to get the better of Birbal. He decided to cut 4 inches of his stick. So, even if Birbal's magic stick grew by 4 inches, he would not be caught as it would look the same. The man took a sharp knife and cut off 4 inches.

The four servants went to Birbal the next morning with their sticks. Birbal spotted the thief at once when he saw the sticks. He sent the other three servants away.

"I know that you stole the bag of gold mohurs", Birbal said sternly to the remaining servant. "I know this because the sticks I gave are ordinary. There is nothing magical about them. I told so to trap the thief. It was your guilty conscience which made you cut off 4 inches!"

Birbal took the man to the Emperor Akbar and told him everything.

The Emperor was pleased with Birbal's cleverness.

"Tell us where you have hidden the bag of gold mohurs", he said to the thief who confessed at once.

The merchant was happy to get back his money. Everyone showered praises on Birbal.

Vocabulary

1) Gold Mohur:

2) Penal (Adj):Subject to punishment by law.

Ex: A penal office.

Sen: That is certainly a problem. For, the normal penal way is to beat each so that the real thief would confess.

3) Confess (V): Admit (to a wrongdoing)

Sen: That is certainly a problem. For, the normal penal way is to beat each so that the real thief would confess.

Sen: It would have been better if the real thief had confessed.

Sen: "Tell us where you have hidden the bag of gold mohurs", he said to the thief who confessed at once.

Sen: She confessed that she had taken the money.

4) Summon (V): Call in an official matter, such as to attend court.

Sen: Later that day, he summoned the four servants and questioned them.

5) Regret (N): Sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment.

Sen: Now I will have to use my magic sticks to catch the thief", Birbal said with regret.

6) Sternly (Adv): In a severe manner.

Sen: "I know that you stole the bag of gold mohurs", Birbal said sternly to the remaining servant.

7) Guilty conscience (N): Remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offence.

Sen: It was your guilty conscience which made you cut off 4 inches!

The Sandy Rabbits

2011-10-03T09:13:00.001-05:00

Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Rabbit and their family lived in a hole near some sand dunes.

They had lived there a long time and the hole was old and draughty and they wanted to exchange it with somebody for a hole farther away from the sea.

Then, one morning, Mrs. Sandy Rabbit met her friend Mrs. Eider Duck on the sands. Mrs. Eider Duck said that she would buy the hole. “I can block up the draughts with some of my down,” she said.

So she gave Mrs. Sandy Rabbit tow bags of her best down in exchange for the hole.

But when Mrs. Sandy Rabbit arrived home with the down, her husband was very cross.

“You have sold our hole for towo bags of down!” he cried. “Now we have to turn out in the cold and we have no home at all.”

“We can sleep in the bags of eiderdown. It will be quite warm inside them,” said Mrs. Sandy Rabbit. And that’s exactly what the Sandy Rabbit family did. And they were very comfortable, too. Very soon, this gave Mrs. Sandy Rabbit an idea.

Every morning, she combed her family with a large wooden comb. Then she knitted up all the bits of fluff into long strips, which she then joined together and filled with the eiderdown.
Soon she had made a whole pile of eiderdowns and all her friends wanted one in exchange for a hole or a nest.

But, strangely enough, the only hole she longed for was their old draughty hole by the sea. So, back they went to ask Mrs. Eider Duck if she would exchange ft for an eiderdown.
Mrs. Eider Duck was pleased to do so. She had found a nice big rock which she liked better than the hole.

So back went the Sandy Rabbits into their old hole. It was no longer draughty because Mrs. Eider Duck had filled in the cracks with her down.

Besides, they each had a nice cosy eiderdown now to keep them warm on chilly nights-thanks to clever Mrs. Sandy Rabbit.

Moral: You must be satisfied with whatever you have and only then you can find peace and fulfillment.

1) Dunes (N): A ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans.
Sen: Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Rabbit and their family lived in a hole near some sand dunes.

2) Draughty (Adj): (Draughtier, Draughtiest)
Sen: They had lived there a long time and the hole was old and draughty and they wanted to exchange it with somebody for a hole farther away from the sea.

The Not-Quite Robbery

2011-10-02T07:15:00.005-05:00

This time, the summer vacation felt longer than normal to Vamshi. Nothing exciting was happening. So many exciting things happened to children in stories but never to Vamshi. He discussed these observations with his friends, Jayesh and Samir. "Other kids often get a mystery or something to solve," he told them woefully.

They all pondered in silence. Lives in stories were so exciting. "Maybe we should make thing happen," said Jayesh. "How about creating a mystery for others to solve," daild Samir, suddenly excited. "What do you mean?" asked Vamshi suspiciously. "Maybe we could rob a bank or something..." said Samir carelessly. There was a period of silence as the idea began to sink in slowly.

They sat up till late in the night and planned the great robbery. The next morning they met at the Girinagar bus stand, 4 kilometres from their locality. It was part of the plan that nobody recognise them. They were quite notorious in their own locality. Jayesh had written a note in his scraggly handwriting that read, " we are carrying a loaded gun. If you fear for your life, please fill all the cash you have in the bag we are going to give you. And for heaven's sake don't make any noise or we will shoot." It was signed "The Terrible Three'. The note sounded harsh and threatening. They were satisfied. Samir had brought a toy gun. It looked quite real though.

They started their adventure by going to the bank. They had covered themselves with black shawls on the hot summer day. That was a little bit of a setback. "Just wait till they find out who we are," Vamshi comforted his friends, "They they will regret ignoring us." They walked up to the cash counter, stood up on their toes, raised their gun and handed the note with trembling fingers to the lady behind the counter.

The lady was busy and didn't look up for what seemed like eternity. Jayesh had heard his father complaining about service in the bank, but couldn't they at least treat robbers decently. After 3 long minutes, she slooked at the boys but she wasn't paying attention to them. Before they could get her attention to the note, somebody yelled out for her and she got up and walked out of the cubicle.

Everybody in the bank seemed very busy. The poor trio. Nobody even noticed them. They got pushed around a couple of times and then decided to leave. They had never felt so ignored in their lives.

"The bank was a mistake," said a disappointed Samir, "We must find a place where we will be very visible. Let us try our luck at a smaller place."

They went to a local grocer, Chand and Sons, next. The guy at the shop looked like Chand's son, spoilt, fat, greasy and lazy. There were tons of greasy tins in which adulterated food was hoarded.

"It will be easy to frighten this fatty," thought Jayesh excitedly. They handed the note to the round and smiling Chand Junior. He stared at them hesitantly as he took the note. His smile faded. Their hearts were pounding.

He looked at the note a couple of times and then said Kannada, "Turn left and then right." Is that where the money is?" thought a puzzled Jayesh. Junior Chand seemed eager to help them as he was anxiously reading their puzzled faces. "I don't know where this place is," he said guiltily handing them back the note.

"This is not an address," said a frustrated Jayesh, now understnading the boy's weird response. "I don't know English," the boy admitted sheepishly, "Anyway, what is written here?"

"Oh never mind," said Samir snatching away the note. They walked out of the shop in a huff leaving a puzzled, fat and not-smiling-anymore boy behind. "Who could have anticipated these thing?" they grumbled to themselves. "Now we must find a place, where we will not be ignored and whre the person behind the ounter can read English," said Samir. "That should not be difficult," said Jayesh. "Well, we haven't found it yet," said Vamshi wryly.

As they were walking, they came across a medical shop called Meenakshi Medicals. The other shops were closed and this seemed an ideal location. "This should be a good place," said an optimistic Samir. They met a cross, old man behind the counter. "Groucho!" thought Jayesh, "Would they be successful there?" Groucho hated children obviously. Their visiting the shop seemed to irritate him. Childern would never visit a chemist shop unaccompanied by adults. What mischief would these three be up to?

"What do you want?" snapped Groucho. They kept straight faces and handed him the note. He stared at it for some time with a furrowed forehead. He was expressionless. "I need my glasses," he told them, "Just wait, I'll come back." He disappeared through a door into what they thought was a storeroom for the shop. "May be we are close to realising our goals," they thought to themselves excitedly.

However, they waited in vain, for Groucho never came back. "May be he has gone home to get his glasses," said Samir hopefully.

"What was he doing in the shop without his glasses," asked Vamshi irritated. "Was he trying to fool us?" thought Vamshi suddenly. The truth suddenly dawned on them. They realised that they had been duped. Groucho must have been laughing in his house for the last 20 minutes thinking about the children waiting foolishly. As they started to return utterly dejected, who should they see, but Groucho, with the local policeman. They tried to bolt, but were caught easily.

As they stood trembling in their shoes, the inspector took a hard look at them and then at the note and burst out laughing. However, he became serous again. He took down their names, the names of their parents, their addresses, the names of their schools and the classes they studied in. There was no way they could escape now. He gave each one of them tow sharp smacks on their bottoms. Groucho smiled. He had been waiting for this.

The trio was really scared now. The inspector had all their details. He could publish photographs of theirs in their school notice boards, he could send letters to their parents, he could walk into their class, make them stand on benches and narrate the story of their foolish escapades to their cheeky classmates. The possibilities were immense and each was murkier than the others.

However, the inspector was kinder. He warned them sternly, "The next time I catch you doing something foolish like this, "I'll report you to your parents." The three of them fled, grateful to him for not squealing on them. Though their robbery had flopped miserably, it turned out to be an exciting holiday after all.

Moral: Young children must never indulge in risky tasks and it is not always good to be naughty.

Vocabulory

Woefully (Adverb)
Pronunciation : wowf(u)lee
Meaning: In an unfortunate or deplorable manner.
Sen: He told them woefully.
It was woefully inadequate.

Ponder (Verb) : to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often followed by over or upon ).
Sen: They all pondered in silence.

scraggly
Sen: Jayesh had written a note in his scraggly handwriting that read, " we are carrying a loaded gun.

eternity
Sen: The lady was busy and didn't look up for what seemed like eternity.

Trio:
Sen: The poor trio.
Sen: The trio was really scared now.

Hoarded
Sen: There were tons of greasy tins in which adulterated food was hoarded.

Pounding:
Sen: Their hearts were pounding.

Weird:
Sen: "This is not an address," said a frustrated Jayesh, now understnading the boy's weird response.

Sheepishly:
Sen: the boy admitted sheepishly.

Snatching:
Sen: "Oh never mind," said Samir snatching away the note.

grumbled:
Sen: they grumbled to themselves.

Wryly:
Sen: "Well, we haven't found it yet," said Vamshi wryly.

Snapped:
Sen: "What do you want?" snapped Groucho.

Furrowed:
Sen: He stared at it for some time with a furrowed forehead.

Dawned:
Sen: The truth suddenly dawned on them.

Dejected:
Sen: As they started to return utterly dejected, who should they see, but Groucho, with the local policeman.

Smacks:
Sen: He gave each one of them tow sharp smacks on their bottoms.

Murkier:
Sen: The possibilities were immense and each was murkier than the others.

Sternly:
Sen: He warned them sternly, "The next time I catch you doing something foolish like this, "I'll report you to your parents."

Squealing:
Sen: The three of them fled, grateful to him for not squealing on them.

Haste Makes Waste

2011-10-01T07:24:00.000-05:00

Long, long ago, a peasant lived in a village called Madhopur. The peasant, named Banarsi, was just simpleton. His family comprised only three persons, he himself, his wife Sharmili and their three-months son.

One day, Banarsi was returning home after his daily work in his fields. Suddenly, he saw a little mongoose lying on the wayside. Picking it up, he brought it home.
“What is it?” asked Sharmili.

“A small mongoose! I found it on the way and so I have brought it for our dear son to play with,” replied Banarsi.

Days went by followed by weeks and months. The peasant’s son and the mongoose kept growing up side by side. His son was now eight months old.

One day, Sharmili said to her husband, “Darling! I am going to market along with other ladies in order to buy articles of daily use. Take care of the boy. He is sleeping soundly in the cradle.”

“Don’t worry, dear, Even if I have to be away, our mongoose is there,” retorted Banarsi.

“No, not at all. A wild animal is after all an animal. Finding our son alone, it may attack him,” said Sharmili thoughtfully.

“Animals are far more faithful than human beings, dear. However, rest assured, I won’t leave the house until you return,” said Banarsi.

Sharmili left for the market. A few minutes later, a messenger of village sarpanch approached Banarsi and said “Danarsi, the sarpanch has sent for your for some urgent work.”

Banarsi said, “My wife has gone shopping. Let her come back. I shall come then.”

“No, the sarpanch wants you immediately,” said the messenger.

Banarsi was in a fix. He was mindful of the assurance that he had given to her wife. But, he did not want to offend the village-head either.

He chose to go the sarpanch leaving his infant son alone to be looked after by the mongoose.

Shortly after Banarsi had left, a black cobra entered his house. It began to crawl towards the cradle slowly.

The mongoose, a sworn enemy of snakes, saw the cobra in time and ran towards it.

The snake put up fiery attacks on the mongoose, got the better of him and killed the cobra tearing its body.

Puffed up at its triumph, the mongoose came out of the room and sat at the threshold of the doorway. Its mouth and paws were smudged with the snake’s blood.

When Sharmili returned from the market, she saw the mongoose at the doorway. Seeing its bloodstained mouth and paws, she jumped to the conclusion that the mongoose had killed her son. She picked up the pitcher lying nearby and flung it on the head of the mongoose, shouting, “You wretch! Why have you killed my son? Is that the way to repay what we did for you?” she cried.

Then, throwing her articles there on the ground, she began to bewail bitterly and ran towards the cradle “Sonny, O my dear Sonny.”

Great was Sharmili’s surprise when she saw her son sleeping safely in the cradle and dead cobra lying by its side. She lost no time to follow what had actually happened. She now knew that mongoose had save her son from the cobra.

Sharmili ran back to the doorway but the mongoose had breathed its last. She repented of what she had done in haste. She wailed mournfully. “What a grave sin I have done! I have killed the savior of my son. God will never pardon me. I must be punished severely for my misdeed.”

Sharmili’s wails attracted a crowd. When the people heard the story of the mongoose, they were all praise for it. Just then, Banarsi returned home too.

Seeing his pet lying dead, he burst into tears. He said to Sharmili, “It is true that mother loves her son, but you were a mother to mongoose too. You had brought it up with your hands. Why did you kill it then?”

Sharmili folded her hands and said, “Forgive me, dear. I am a sinner. I suspected the pet for nothing and killed it in haste. I am a killer. “Saying so, she began to weep bitterly.

“It is no use crying now Sharmili. Learn a lesson from what you have done. Anything, done in haste without properly thinking over it, always leads to bad results,” said Banarsi.

The couple then buried the dead mongoose. Banarsi prayed to God, “May the soul of my dear pet rest in peace!” He also begged his pardon for the sin committed by his wife.

Moral: One has to repent for what one does in haste.

Vocabulary

1) Peasant (N):
Pronunciation: Pezunt
Meaning: A country person.
Sen: A peasant lived in a village.

2) Simpleton (N):
Pronunciation: Simpultun
Meaning: A person lacking intelligence or common sense.
Sen: The peasant was just simpleton.

3) Retort (V):
Pronunciation: Ri’tort
Meaning: Answer Back.
Sen: “Don’t worry, dear, Even if I have to be away, our mongoose is there,” retorted Banarsi.

4) Rest (N):
Pronunciation: Rest
Meaning: Something left after other parts have been taken away
Sen: However, rest assured, I won’t leave the house until you return,” said Banarsi.

5) I think the preposition “for” won’t come before shopping:
Sen: My wife has gone shopping.

6) Fix (N):
Pronunciation: Fiks
Meaning: Informal term for a difficult situation.
Sen: Banarsi was in a fix.
Sen: He got into a terrible fix.

7) Offend (V):
Pronunciation: u’fend
Meaning: a) Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises.
b) Hurt the feelings of.
Sen: He did not want to offend the village-head either.

8) Infant (N):
Pronunciation: infunt
Meaning: A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

Toddler (N): A young child

Teenager (N): A juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity

Juvenile (N): A young person, not fully developed

Young (N): Any immature animal.

9) Puff up (V):
Meaning: Become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger.
Sen: Puffed up at its triumph.

10) Triumph (N):
Pronunciation: trI úmpf
Meaning: A successful ending of a struggle or contest.
Sen: Puffed up at its triumph.

11) Threshold (N):
Pronunciation: thresh ówld.
Meaning: The sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway.
Sen: Puffed up at its triumph, the mongoose came out of the room and sat at the threshold of the doorway.

12) Smudge (V):
Pronunciation: smuj.
Meaning: Make a smudge on.

Smudge (N): A blemish made by dirt.

Blemish (N): A mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body)

Tit For Tat

2011-09-27T08:18:00.004-05:00

Long time ago, there lived a merchant, named Manohar Lal. He lived in a town. He was very, very rich. But unluckily, he fell on bad days, so much so that he became a bankrupt. His business failed and theft occurred in his house. Not only this, he had to sell his house to pay off the debts.

Manohar Lal was in utter adversity. But something had to be done to cope with the adverse conditions. So he thought, “I must go to some other town and start some work. God may help me and I may prosper again. “Manohar Lal made preparations to go to another town. One of his old friends Janki Das lived in the same town. He was a hypocritical person. Manohar Lal went to him and intimated him of his decision to leave the town.

Hearing Manohar’s tale of woe, Janki Das expressed his sympathy and said, “Dear friend, what can I do for you? Let me know.”

“My brother, I have got an iron bar that never rusts. I want to pawn it with you against one hundred rupees. When I will return, I shall clear your debt and have my iron rod back.”

“Is that all? It is no problem at all. I shall preserve the bar safely. “Saying so, Janki Das gave hundred rupees to Manohar and took his iron bar.

Manohar Lal thanked Janki Das and set out for another town. With the one hundred rupees he started a small business. Luck favoured him and in few monthes only, his business flourished and he became rich again. Manohar Lal returned to his hometown. He bought a new house and started his old business once again. Soon, he came to enjoy his old respect as well as dignity.

One day, Manohar Lal went to Janki Das’s house. His friend entertained him duly and they exchanged greetings. Then, Manohar Lal said to Janki Das, “Friend! Here are your one hundred rupees. I want to have my iron bar back.”

Janki Das put on a sad face and said, “My brother! I feel very ashamed to tell you that I placed your iron bar safely in a box. God knows how a rat got into the box and nibbled the entire bar. I tried my level best to get a similar bar from the market but to no purpose. What can I do now?”

Janki Das’s false statement created doubt in Manohar’s mind, he was convinced that his friend was insincere. And it was true that Janki did not want to part with the bar and that was why he had told a lie. But Manohar Lal was wise enough not to show any displeasure at what Janki Das had said. He smiled and said, “My friend! Why have you become so sad when a rat has nibbled the bar? It is not your fault at all. Nothing in the world is everlasting. Everything perishes sooner or later. Let us leave this topic. Don’t be sore at heart at all.”

Saying so, Manohar got up to leave for his house. Then he suddenly said, “Well, my friend! I forgot to tell you a very important thing. I have brought a valuable present for you. I have left it at home. Would you send your son to collect the present?” Ashamed of his dishonestly, Janki Das couldn’t refuse. He was happy that Manohar had believed his son Sunder with Manohar Lal.

Manohar returned home with Sunder and led him into the dark basement of his house and locked him there. Janki Das felt worried, as his son didn’t returned home till evening. He ran to manohar’s house and said, “Friend! Where is my son? He hasn’t reached home so far. “Manohar Lal said, “I am so sorry to break the bad news to you. “What bad news? Tell me immediately where my son is, “asked Janki Das impatiently.

“Brother! When we were coming from your house, a big bird pounced on the boy and took him away in his claws,” replied Manohar Lal. “It’s a lie… Can a bird carry a boy?” exclaimed Janki Das in anger.

Then hot words came to be traded between the two friends. Their fuss attracted a big crowd and the people started trying to make peace between them. But nobody could help them to reach the settlement. Finally, they went to the had of the town to seek a settlement of their dispute.

Janki Das said, “Sir, this man has kidnapped my son, sir? A gigantic bird carried his son away. What could I do?” replied Manohar.

The head of the town retorted, “You are telling lie. But there must be some reason for this lie. Let me know everything clearly.”

Manohar Lal narrated the whole story. He said, “Sir, you are a judge and I am sure your will dispense justice in our case. If an iron bar can be nibbled by a rat, why can’t a boy be carried away by a bird?”

Now the head of the town said, “Janki Das! Return his iron bar if you want to have your son back.”

Moral : Learn to be honest.

Vocabulary
1) Hypocritical (Adj) :
Pronunciation: ‘hipu’kritikul)
Meaning: Professing feelings or virtues one does not have.
Sen: He was a hypocritical person.

2) Woe (N):
Pronunciation: Wow
Meaning: a) Misery reflecting from affliction.
b) Intense mournfulness.
Sen: Hearing Manohar’s tale of woe, Janki Das expressed his sympathy and said, “Dear friend, what can I do for you? Let me know.”

Beauty And The Beast

2011-05-19T06:01:00.008-05:00

In a far-away country lived a rich merchant with his three lovely daughters, Bliss, Blossom, and Beauty. They lived comfortably in a large house with many servants. One day, however, the merchant lost all his ships to storms at sea. The family could no longer afford its fine house or servants, so the merchant and his daughters moved to a small cottage.

At first, Bliss and Blossom were unhappy. They complained about the luxuries they had lost and the work they now had to do. But Beauty said, "Crying will not make things better. we must learn to be happy here."

She worked every day, cleaning, cooking, and gardening, and she helped her sisters learn to enjoy their new life. The merchant was proud of all three girls, but especially of Beauty.

One day, the merchant heard that a ship he owned had returned safely, and he prepared for the long journey to the port. Each daughter wished him a safe journey, and the merchant promised to bring back gifts. Bliss and Blossom wanted ball gowns and fine jewelry.

"What would you like, Beauty?" the merchant asked.

"A rose," said Beauty, "just a lovely rose."

When the merchant reached the port, he learned that his cargo of fine silk had been ruined by seawater that had leaked into the ship. He was just as poor as before.

***
The merchant rode sadly home, passing through a part of the woods that he had never traveled before. As night fell, he began to hear soft rustling sounds behind him and eerie howls in the distance. Suddenly, a raging storm blew up, and he became lost in a deep, swirling mist of snow.

The merchant pressed bravely on, but he soon realized that he would have to stop for the night. In the distance, he saw a yellow light that seemed to cut through the blizzard. He struggled toward it, hoping that he would find a small village or a tiny hut where he could sit out the storm. He stepped into a clearing --- and came upon the most magnificent palace he had ever seen !

***
The merchant tied his horse to the gate and went inside. He could not find the owner of the castle, but he did discover an inviting fire, a wonderful meal, and a soft, warm bed.

The next morning, the merchant explored the palace grounds. Even though it was winter, the garden was filled with colorful flowers of all kinds. He came upon a lovely rose bush and, remembering Beauty's request, decided to pick one for her. As he broke the stem of the flower, the air was filled with a terrible roar, and a huge beast appeared as if from nowhere.

"Thief! Robber!" the Beast bellowed. "I offered you food and shelter, and you stole from me! For this I must put you in the dungeon."

***
The merchant begged the Beast to let him take the rose to Beauty and see his daughters one last time. Touched by the man's love for his family, the Beast gave him a magic ring to take him from the castle to his home, and the merchant promised to return and accept his punishment. He arrived home and told his daughters what had happened.

"Must you go, Father?" asked Bliss. "we will miss you so."

"It is only a beast," protested Blossom. "Do you have to keep a promise to such a creature?"

"I gave my word!" said the merchant.

Beauty said nothing, but as soon as all were asleep, she took the magic ring and used it to carry her to the castle of the Beast, knowing that here father could not follow her.

Beauty told the Beast that she wanted to take her father's place. "when he plucked the rose, he was only doing what I had asked," she explained. "I should be the one to stay here with you."

Again, the Beast was moved, and he agreed. "You will not stay as a prisoner, but as my guest."

The Beast worked hard to make Beauty happy. He saw that she had beautiful clothes, delicious meals, and fresh flowers from the garden. Every evening they would have dinner together and spend many hours talking. The Beast soon fell in love with Beauty. He often thought of telling her, but he was ashamed of his frightful appearance and so never spoke of his feelings.

***
In time, Beauty came to care for the Beast very much. She admired the pride he took in his garden, and she loved the gentle way he tended to the animals on the palace grounds. But she also missed her father and sisters, and one day she asked if she might visit them.

"Very well," said the Beast, giving her the magic ring. "But I can let you go for only ten days. At the end of the tenth day, you must return."

Beauty went home, and her family was overjoyed to see her. When the time came for her to return to the Beast, she could not bear to leave. She decided to stay one more day.

***
As Beauty slept that night, she dreamed that the Beast was lying helpless in his garden. He seemed to be dying. She was so frightened by the dream that the next morning she used the ring to return to the palace. All was strangely quiet.

She called out but heard no answer. She rushed to the garden and found the beast lying just as she had seen him in her dream.

"Oh, Beast, don't die!" she cried. "You are so kind, and I do love you! You are ugly, but your goodness is easy to see!"

***
With Beauty's words, the Beast changed into a handsome prince.

"An old fairy turned me into a beast to teach me a lesson," said the Prince. "I was often cruel to animals that I thought ugly. The spell would be broken only when someone grew to love me in spite of the way I looked."

The prince and Beauty were married at once. Her father, her sisters, and all the people who belonged to the Prince's court came to celebrate the wedding.

No longer a beast in either body or spirit, the Prince loved Beauty with all his heart and provided for her and her family for the rest of their days.

***** THE END *****
Vocabulary

Rustling (N): A light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind.
Sen: He began to hear soft rustling sounds behind him.

Eerie (Adj): (eerier, eeriest) Pronounced As : I(u)ree
Inspiring a feeling of fear; strange and frightening.
Sen: He began to hear soft rustling sounds behind him and eerie howls behind him.

Blizzard (N): A storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds
Sen: He saw a yellow light that seemed to cut through the blizzard.

Mickey On A Railway

2009-09-30T13:26:00.005-05:00

Mickey On A Railway,

Picking Up Stones.

Down Came An Engine,

And Broke Mickey's Bones.

Ha! Said Mickey,

That's Not Fair.

Oh! Said The Engine Driver,

I Don't Care.

Mickey On A Railway,

Picking Up Stones.

Down Came An Engine,

And Broke Mickey's Bones.

Ha! Said Mickey,

That's Not Fair.

Oh! Said The Engine Driver,

I Don't Care.

Mary Had A Little Lamb

2009-04-04T15:47:00.002-05:00

Mary Had A Little Lamb,

It's Fleece Was White As A Snow;

And Everywhere That Mary Went,

The Lamb Was Sure To Go.

Lucy Lockett

2009-04-04T15:39:00.002-05:00

Lucy Locket, Lost Her Pocket,

Kitty Fisher Found It;

Not A Penny Was There In It,

Only Ribbon Round It.

London Bridge is Falling Down

2009-04-04T13:56:00.005-05:00

London Bridge Is Falling Down,
Falling Down, Falling Down,
London Bridge Is Falling Down,
My Fair Lady.

London Bridge Is Falling Down,
Falling Down, Falling Down,
London Bridge Is Falling Down,
My Fair Lady.

London Bridge Is Falling Down,
Falling Down, Falling Down,
London Bridge Is Falling Down,
My Fair Lady.

London Bridge Is Falling Down,
Falling Down, Falling Down,
London Bridge Is Falling Down,
My Fair Lady.

Vocabulory:

London Bridge

Little Miss Muffet

2009-02-11T14:36:00.009-06:00

Little Miss Muffet,

Sat On A Tuffet,

Eating Her Curds And Whey,

Along Came A Spider,

Who Sat Down Beside Her,

And Frightened Miss Muffet Away.

Vocabulory:

1) Tuffet (N) --- A low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person

2) Whey (N) --- Watery part of milk produced when raw milk sours and coagulates

3) Spider (N) --- Predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey

Little Jack Horner

2009-02-06T15:38:00.005-06:00

Little Jack Horner,

Sat In A Corner,

Eating A Christmas Pie,

He Stuck In His Thumb,

And Pulled Out A Plum,

And Said, What A Good Boy Am I !!!

Little Jack Horner,

Sat In A Corner,

Eating A Christmas Pie,

He Stuck In His Thumb,

And Pulled Out A Plum,

And Said, What A Good Boy Am I !!!

Vocabulary:

1) Pie --- Dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

2) Stuck --- (Stick-Stuck-Stuck)Put, fix, force, or implant
Ex:"stick your thumb in the crack".

3) Thumb

4) Plum --- a fruit

Little Girl

2009-02-04T17:19:00.003-06:00

Little Girl, Little Girl Where Have You Been?

Gathering Roses To Give To The Queen.

Little Girl, Little Girl What Gave She You?

She Gave Me A Diamond As Big As My Shoe.

Little Boy Blue

2009-01-28T13:26:00.009-06:00

Little Boy Blue, Come Blow Your Horn.

The Sheep's In The Meadow, The Cows In The Corn.

But, Where Is The Little Boy, Who Looks After The Sheep?

He's Under A Haystack Fast Asleep.

Vocabulary:

1) Meadow --- A field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay.

2) Corn --- The dried grains or kernels or corn used as animal feed or ground for meal

3) Haystack --- A stack of hay

Lady Bug

2009-01-20T15:24:00.008-06:00

Ladybug, Ladybug ...
Landed On My Thumb,
Crawled On To My Wrist,
And Crawled Up To My Elbow,
Ladybug, Ladybug ...
Crawled Up My Arm,
And Then She Flew Away!

Ladybug, Ladybug ...
Landed On My Toe,
Crawled On To My Ankle,
And Crawled Up To My Knee,
Ladybug, Ladybug ...
Crawled Up My Leg,
And Then She Flew Away!

Oh, Ladybug! Oh, Ladybug!
Oh, Won't You Be My Friend?
Oh, Ladybug! Oh, Ladybug!
Won't You Come And Visit Me Again?
Won't You Come And Visit Me Again?

Ladybug, Ladybug ...
Landed On My Head,
Crawled On To My Nose,
And Over To My Ear,
Ladybug, Ladybug ...
Crawled On My Neck,
And Then She Flew Away!

Oh, Ladybug! Oh, Ladybug!
Oh, Won't You Be My Friend?
Oh, Ladybug! Oh, Ladybug!
Won't You Come And Visit Me Again?
Won't You Come And Visit Me Again?

Johny Johny

2009-01-16T15:44:00.005-06:00

Johny, Johny, YES, Papa,

Eating Sugar, NO, Papa,

Telling Lies, NO, Papa,

Open Your Mouth, Ha Ha Ha.

Jingle Bells

2009-01-08T13:40:00.013-06:00

Dashing Through The Snow,

In A One-Horse Open Sleigh,

Over The Fields We Go,

Laughing All The Way,

Bells On Bobtails Ring,

Making Spirits Bright,

What Fun It Is To Ride And Sing,

A Sleighing Song Tonight.

Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle All The Way,

Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride,

In A One-Horse Open Sleigh.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle All The Way,

Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride,

In A One-Horse, Open Sleigh.

A Day Or Two Ago,

I Thought I'd Take A Ride,

And Soon Miss Fanny Bride,

Was Seated By My Side,

The Horse Was Lean And Lank,

Misfortune Seemed His Lot,

He Got Into A Drifted Bank,

And Where We Got Up Sot.

Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle All The Way,

Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride,

In A One-Horse, Open Sleigh.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle All The Way,

Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride,

In A One-Horse, Open Sleigh.

Dashing Through The Snow,

In A One-Horse Open Sleigh,

Over The Fields We Go,

Laughing All The Way,

Ha, Ha, Ha,

Bells On Bobtails Ring,

Making Spirits Bright,

What Fun It Is To Ride And Sing,

A Sleighing Song Tonight.

Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle All The Way,

Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride,

In A One-Horse Open Sleigh.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle All The Way,

Oh, What Fun It Is To Ride,

In A Oneee - Horseee Opeeen Sleeeigh.

Vocabulary:

1) One-horse --- Small and remote and insignificant

2) Sleigh --- A vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow

3) Bobtail --- A short or shortened tail of certain animals

4) Jingle --- Make a sound typical of metallic objects

5) Lank --- Long and lean

6) Drifted --- Be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current

7) Sot --- A chronic drinker

Jack & Jill

2009-01-05T14:28:00.003-06:00

Jack & Jill,

When Up The Hill,

To Fetch A Pail Of Water,

Jack Fell Down,

And Broke His Crown,

And Jill Came Tumbling After.

Vocabulary:

1) Fetch (v) --- Go Get It

2) Pail (N) --- A roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top

3) Break - Broke - Broken

4) Crown (N) --- The top of the head

5) Tumble (V) --- Roll over and over, Fall down.

If you are happy

2008-12-25T22:09:00.008-06:00

If You're Happy And You Know It, Clap Your Hands.