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The Ox Who Won the Forfeit
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Fable of the Month

The Ox Who Won the Forfeit

In a small village, there is a man. The man has a big, strong ox. The man is very proud. He tells everyone, "My ox is very strong!"

One day, some heavy wagons get stuck. The road is very muddy. The man says, "My ox can help!" The people come to watch.

The man connects the ox to the wagons. He says, "Look at my ox!" But the ox does not move. The man pulls. The man shouts. The man even hits the ox. The ox just stands there. The people laugh. The man feels sad and sorry.

That night, the man sits with his ox. He says, "I am sorry. I will be kind to you."

The next day, the wagons are still stuck. The man tries again. This time, he is kind. He connects the ox to the wagons. He says, "Can you help us, friend?"

The ox starts to pull. The wagons move. The people cheer. The man is very happy. He thanks his ox. The wagon owner gives the man money.

From then on, the man is kind to his ox. He never shows off again.

Once upon a time, in a small village in India, there was a man with a very strong ox. The man was very proud and often talked about how strong his ox was. He would say to everyone, "There is no ox in this village or the next that is as strong as my ox!"

One sunny day, some heavy wagons got stuck in the village because of the muddy road. The man saw a chance to show off and offered his ox to help move the wagons. The villagers came to watch.

"Look at this!" he shouted as he connected the ox to the wagons. But to his surprise, the ox wouldn't move. Even though the man pulled, shouted, and even whipped the ox, it just stood there. The villagers laughed at him, and the man felt embarrassed and had to pay a penalty for his boast.

That night, under the moonlight, the man sat beside his ox feeling guilty and sorry. He gently stroked the ox and said, "I'm sorry for being so proud and making things hard for you. I promise to be kind from now on."

The next day, the wagons were still stuck. The man tried again, but this time he was respectful. He gently connected the ox to the wagons and quietly asked, "Could you help us, dear friend?"

To everyone's surprise, the ox started pulling hard. Slowly, the wagons moved, and soon they were rolling along. The villagers cheered for the ox’s strength. The man was very happy and thanked his ox warmly. The wagon owner was so impressed that he gave the man a lot of money, more than what he lost before.

From then on, the man never bragged again. He always treated his ox with kindness and respect, and he became known as a man with humility and an understanding of true strength.

Once upon a time, in a small village in India, there was a man with a very strong ox. The man took great pride in his ox and often boasted about its strength to anyone who would listen. He would proclaim, "There is no ox in this village or the next that is as strong as mine!"

One sunny day, some heavy wagons became stuck in the village due to the muddy roads. Seeing an opportunity to demonstrate his ox's power, the man offered its help to move the wagons. The villagers gathered to watch the spectacle.

"Watch this!" he shouted as he hitched his ox to the wagons. To his astonishment, the ox did not budge. Despite the man's efforts—pulling, shouting, and even whipping—the ox remained still. The villagers laughed at him, and the man felt deeply embarrassed, having to pay a penalty for his empty boasting.

That night, under the gentle glow of the moon, the man sat beside his ox, feeling remorseful and ashamed. He softly stroked the ox's fur and said, "I am sorry for being so proud and for making things difficult for you. I promise to treat you with kindness from now on."

The next day, the wagons were still stuck. The man decided to try again, but this time he approached the task with respect. He gently hitched the ox to the wagons and quietly asked, "Could you help us, dear friend?"

To everyone's amazement, the ox began to pull with great effort. Slowly but surely, the wagons started to move, and soon they were rolling freely. The villagers cheered for the ox’s remarkable strength. The man was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude to his ox warmly. The wagon owner, impressed by the ox's performance, rewarded the man with a substantial amount of money, even more than what he had lost before.

From that day forward, the man never boasted again. He always treated his ox with kindness and respect, earning a reputation as a man of humility who understood the true meaning of strength.

Once upon a time in the most happening village in all of India, there was this man with an Ox. This wasn't just your run-of-the-mill Ox, oh no, this Ox was like the strongest superhero you could imagine. And the man? Imagine him as a cheerleader on a sugar high, always going, "Look at my Ox! My Ox could lift a mountain, easy!"

Then, right on cue, a caravan of wagons rolls into town. But they're stuck! Why? Mud. The sort of gooey, squelchy mud that traps everything like glue.

The man thinks, "This is it. Time for my Ox to flex those muscles!" And so, he says, "Make way, folks! Get ready for the greatest feat of strength you'll ever see!"

Everyone's eyes are glued to them. The man attaches the Ox to the wagons and yells, "Showtime!" But the Ox just freezes, like a statue. "Move, buddy! You're stealing my thunder here," the man tries to coax, pulling and even poking the Ox. Nothing happens. Not a twitch.

The crowd? They can barely contain themselves. They laugh so hard it's like they're at a comedy show. The man goes red as a tomato—so red he had to pay a fine for his overly grand claims.

That evening, it's just the man and his Ox, under a moon that's showing off all its curves. The man's ego has hit rock bottom. "Sorry, my friend, I got carried away there. No more antics from me, I promise," he says, patting the Ox gently.

Next day, same wagons, same sticky situation. Everyone has given up hope. Except our man. This time, he walks up with a change of heart. He whispers to his Ox, "Could you help us out, old pal?"

Would you believe it—the Ox starts pulling! The wagons move as if they have wings! People are clapping, jumping, you'd think they're at a festival!

The wagon owner is so grateful, he hands the man a generous amount of money—way more than the fine he had to cough up the previous day.

From that moment on, the man is a new person. No more bragging, no more showmanship. Just good old kindness and an endless supply of treats for his Ox. He had learned the real treasure in life: humility, compassion, and the sheer power of kindness. And that's how he and his Ox lived happily, and wisely, ever after.

Strong and sturdy stood an Ox,
With a man who'd often talk and talk.
"None can match my Ox, so grand,"
He'd tell folks all across the land.

Heavy wagons came one day,
Stuck in mud, they couldn't make their way.
"Stand aside," the man did cheer,
"I’ll show you all why my Ox is peer!"

He tied the Ox, and yelled "Let's go!"
But the Ox thought, "This is not the way, you know."
Despite the whip, despite the shout,
The Ox stood still, not moving, not a single bout.

Laughter echoed, jeers were thrown,
The man felt small, his cover blown.
Fees were paid, his pockets light,
His pride was gone, slipped into night.

Under moon's soft, glowing beam,
Man told Ox, "I've been quite mean."
"Forgive my ways, so harsh and rude,
Kindness now will be my mood."

Next day came, the wagons stuck,
Villagers said, "We're out of luck."
But the man knew what to do,
He asked his Ox, his spirit new.

"Could you help us, dear old friend?"
The Ox felt love, he’d help them mend.
He pulled and tugged with all his might,
The wagons moved, oh what a sight!

Cheers erupted, praises flew,
For the Ox and humble man, the villagers knew.
Gifts were given, gratitude shown,
This pair, their worth was fully known.

From that day, the man was changed,
Kindness in his heart arranged.
He and Ox lived side by side,
In strength and gentle love, they'd always confide.

Word Finder
  1. Village

    A very small place with many houses.

  2. Proud

    Feeling very good about yourself or something.

  3. Wagons

    Big carts with wheels for carrying things.

  4. Muddy

    Very wet dirt on the ground.

  5. Connects

    Joins two things together using something.

  6. Shouts

    Speaks very loudly because of feeling strong.

  7. Stands

    To be on feet without moving anywhere.

  8. Sorry

    Feeling bad about doing something wrong.

  9. Kind

    Being nice and helpful to others always.

  10. Cheer

    Shout happily to show you feel great.

  1. Proud

    Feeling very good about something achieved.

  2. Boast

    Talk about something with too much pride.

  3. Embarrassed

    Feeling shy or uncomfortable because of a mistake.

  4. Penalty

    A punishment or loss for doing something wrong.

  5. Guilty

    Feeling bad because you did something wrong.

  6. Respectful

    Showing honor and kindness to others.

  7. Surprise

    An unexpected or shocking event or reaction.

  8. Cheered

    Shouted to show happiness or support.

  9. Strength

    The ability to do something physically difficult.

  10. Humility

    Being humble and not thinking you are better than others.

  1. Proclaim

    To say something clearly and strongly.

  2. Astonishment

    Great surprise or wonder.

  3. Budge

    To move or change position slightly.

  4. Remorseful

    Feeling sorry for something you did wrong.

  5. Stroked

    To gently rub or touch.

  6. Remarkable

    Very unusual and special, worth noticing.

  7. Gratitude

    A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.

  8. Substantial

    Large in amount or importance.

  9. Boasting

    Talking too proudly about something.

  10. Humility

    Being modest and not proud or arrogant.

  1. Caravan

    A group of vehicles traveling together.

  2. Squelchy

    Making a squishy sound when walked on.

  3. Coax

    To gently persuade or encourage someone.

  4. Contain

    To hold back or keep inside.

  5. Antics

    Silly or funny actions.

  6. Generous

    Willing to give more than expected.

  7. Bragging

    Talking about oneself with too much pride.

  8. Showmanship

    Skill in entertaining and attracting attention.

  9. Humility

    Being humble and not thinking too highly of oneself.

  10. Compassion

    Feeling concern for others and wanting to help.

  1. Sturdy

    Strong and well-built, can’t break easily.

  2. Cheer

    Shout of joy or encouragement, happy sound.

  3. Peer

    Equal to others in ability or quality.

  4. Bout

    Short period of intense activity or action.

  5. Echoed

    Sound repeated as it bounces back.

  6. Jeers

    Insulting remarks or mocking laughter, mean words.

  7. Beam

    A ray of light, bright line of light.

  8. Villagers

    People living in a small community or village.

  9. Mend

    Fix or repair something that is broken.

  10. Arranged

    Put in order or organized neatly, set up.

Understanding Questions
  1. Where does the man live?

    1. In a city
    2. In a small village
    3. On a mountain
    4. By the sea
  2. What does the man have?

    1. A strong ox
    2. A fast horse
    3. A big dog
    4. A small cat
  3. Why do the people laugh at the man?

    1. Because the man falls down
    2. Because the man’s ox does not move
    3. Because the man sings a song
    4. Because the man dances
  4. What does the man do the next day to get the ox to move the wagons?

    1. He gives the ox food.
    2. He shouts at the ox.
    3. He is kind to the ox.
    4. He sells the ox.
  5. What happens at the end of the story?

    1. The man sells the wagons.
    2. The man and the ox leave the village.
    3. The man is kind to the ox and does not show off.
    4. The man buys a new ox.
  1. Where did the story take place, and what was the man proud of?
  2. What happened when the man first tried to make his ox move the heavy wagons?
  3. How did the villagers react when the ox did not move the wagons?
  4. What did the man do that made the ox finally start pulling the wagons?
  5. What was the result for the man after the ox successfully moved the wagons?
  1. Why did the man feel embarrassed after his first attempt to move the wagons?
  2. What actions did the man take after he felt remorseful and ashamed?
  3. How did the villagers react when the ox successfully moved the wagons on the second day?
  4. What reward did the man receive from the wagon owner?
  5. How did the man's behavior change towards his ox after the incident, and what was the result of this change?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the Ox refused to move the wagons when the man first tried to show off its strength?
  2. How did the man's behavior change from the first day to the second day, and why was this change important?
  3. Can you think of a time when you learned something important from a mistake you made, just like the man did in the story?
  4. What does this story teach us about the importance of treating others, including animals, with kindness and respect?
  5. How can we apply the lessons from this story in our daily life to become better people?
Fable Quotes
Pride comes before a fall, but humility opens the path to true strength and genuine success.
Kindness moves mountains; it's not mere words but action that truly speaks.
Respect isn't given due to strength, but earned through kindness.
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