Aesop
|
Greece

A Gardener and His Dog

A dog falls into a well, and the gardener, while trying to save him, gets bitten due to a misunderstanding, leaving the dog behind.
Understanding
Fear
Regret
Aesop's Fables - A Gardener and His Dog
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a sunny village, a gardener lived with his dog. This dog delighted in chasing butterflies, birds, and even its own tail around the garden.

One day, during a particularly enthusiastic butterfly chase, the dog slipped and tumbled into a deep well.

Noticing the absence of his dog, the gardener began to search for him. When he heard faint whimpers, he hurried to the well and saw his dog struggling in the water. Without a second thought, he rolled up his sleeves and reached in to save him.

However, the dog, consumed by fear, misunderstood his master's intentions. Believing that the gardener was trying to push him further down, the terrified dog bit his hand. The surprise and pain shocked the gardener. He had only been trying to rescue his friend, and yet he received a painful bite in return.

Feeling hurt, not just from the bite but also from his dog's reaction, the gardener withdrew his hand. He decided to let the dog figure out his own way out of the well. With that, the gardener walked away, leaving his ungrateful friend behind in the deep, cold well.

Once upon a time, in a super sunny village where the sun was basically giving out free smiles, a gardener and his dog lived the good life. The gardener treated his plants like they were his own little plant-kids. As for the dog, he loved running around, chasing everything that moved. Butterflies? You betcha! Birds? For sure! His own tail? He'd spin around trying to catch it like he was playing a game of tag.

One amazing day, our four-legged buddy decided to chase a butterfly that could really zigzag like a pro. Seriously, this butterfly was like the best dancer at a bug disco. But, whoops! The dog took a wrong turn and—SPLASH!—he fell into a deep well.

"Oh no!" said the dog, now looking wetter than a puddle.

The gardener noticed things were too quiet. "Where's all the usual noise? Usually, he's knocked over a couple of my flower pots by now," he thought. Hearing tiny whimpers that sounded like squeaky toys, he found his dog doing the doggie paddle in the well.

"Hang on, buddy! Rescue mission activated!" shouted the gardener, rolling up his sleeves like he was getting ready for a mud pie contest. He reached down to save his best pal.

But the dog, getting all mixed up and scared, thought, "Oh no! Is he trying to make me sink? Is this a scary story now?"

And, surprise! The dog bit the gardener's hand. "Ouch! Really? Biting the hand that feeds you?"

Feeling double ouchies—in his hand and in his feelings—the gardener said, "Okay, Mr. Bitey, figure out your own adventure, then!" And he walked away, leaving his confused and soggy doggy friend behind.

"What? You're leaving? But the story can't end like this!" yelled the dog from his cold, lonely well.

Time passed, and both the dog and gardener learned something. The dog got out of the well, thanks to a kind person who dropped a bucket. And guess what? The dog and gardener got back together! They both acted a little different though. The gardener wore some cool gloves, and the dog decided to chase clouds in the sky instead of real butterflies.

So, what's the big idea here? Well, misunderstandings change what friendships can be. But if you give it another go, you might find a happy ending after all. Just remember, life is full of deep wells and tricky spots, so it helps to be a little more trusting and a lot less snappy.

A gardener and pup, both best of friends,
Played in a village where the sunshine never ends.
The pup loved to chase, oh, what fun it was,
Birds, butterflies, doing it just because.

One sunny day, a butterfly flew,
The pup chased it fast, then down he drew.
With a splash and a yelp, oh where could he be?
Down in a well, as deep as the sea.

The gardener noticed his pup was gone,
He searched and he called from dusk till dawn.
A whimper he heard, he went to the well,
His pup was down there, oh, he could tell.

Sleeves rolled up, his arm reached down,
To lift up his pup and wipe off his frown.
But the pup was scared, bit the hand that feeds,
Oh, how could he misread those loving deeds?

A sting in his palm, a sting in his heart,
The gardener paused, not sure where to start.
He took back his hand, a sigh he released,
"If you must find your way," he left, feeling decreased.

So the gardener turned, his steps growing cold,
Left his dear pup in the well's chilly hold.
It's a tale of love, but sometimes you see,
Misunderstandings change what friendships can be.

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Reflection Questions

  1. Why did the dog bite the gardener?
  2. How do you think the gardener felt when his dog bit him, even though he was trying to help?
  3. Can you think of a time when someone misunderstood your actions, even when you had good intentions?
  4. What lesson does this story teach us about understanding others' intentions?
  5. How could this story help us respond differently when someone tries to help us, even if we are scared or upset?

Fable Quotes

True understanding requires open hearts, for misinterpretation can turn loyal companions into fearful adversaries.
Fear blinds us to the reality of rescue, painting saviors as foes.
Regret is the aftermath of hasty reactions and misunderstood intentions.
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