Christian Library | Full Free Coptic Books | Orthodox Library

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth), book by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

501- Gorilla between the Lion’s Jaws

St-Takla.org Image: Taxidermy of a gorilla (photo 2) - Bioparco di Roma: Rome Zoo (zoological garden), Italy. Date opened: 5 January 1911 - Photograph by Michael Ghaly for St-Takla.org, September 20, 2014. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: غوريلا محنطة (صورة 2) - صور حديقة حيوان روما، إيطاليا. افتتحت يوم 5 يناير 1911 م. - تصوير مايكل غالي لموقع الأنبا تكلاهيمانوت، 20 سبتمبر 2014.

Tony lived jobless for a long time and was distressed. He heard of a job in the zoo. He went to apply for it. The director of the zoo said, “The gorilla died and we’ve no one else. It attracts many people especially children. Can you put on the skin of a gorilla, jump among the branches of the trees and imitate its voice for a large sum of money until we export another gorilla from abroad?”

Tony accepted unwillingly. When he started to imitate the gorilla, children threw nuts at him which he ate gluttonously and went on jumping more and more among the branches.

Once he climbed a high tree which could not bear him. It bowed and was broken throwing him in the den of the lion. He did not know what to do. He put off the skin of the gorilla but no one rescued him. Thus, the lion devoured him.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: غوريلا بين أنياب الأسد.

Help me not to put on a garment which is not mine.

May my inner man be like my outer appearance,

Since there will come a day on which I shall put off my garments.

Who will rescue me then?

---