576- The Dishonest Tiger

A deer heard someone asking for help. As he went to see who he was he found that it was the tiger. He was lying on the ground, as a large tree fell on his back.

 “What happened tiger?”

 “As I was walking in the forest a tree fell on me.”

 “When?”

 “In the morning.”

 “What do you want then?”

 “Rescue me. I’m dying.”

 “How can I rescue you when you’re wild?”

 “I promise to reward you not to devour you.”

 “Your promise is false.”

 “No, I’ll fulfill my promise.”

The tiger begged him to save him promising to reward him. Therefore, the deer dragged the tree and saved the tiger. Then, the tiger prepared to jump over the deer and devour him. At that moment, the deer asked, “Did you forget your promise?”

“How can I fulfill it when I haven’t eaten anything since the morning?”

“But you promised!”

“But I’ve to answer the call of my stomach.”

“Then, let’s go to a wise judge.”

“Ok.”

They went to the serpent. As they narrated their story he said to them, “I’m at a loss. Deer is honest and he rescued you Tiger. You promised and you should fulfill your promise. On the other hand, I’ve to listen to the cries of Tiger’s stomach O Deer. Let’s go to the place where you met in order to be able to judge justly.”

They went to the forest. There, the tiger lied down on the ground. The deer dragged the tree over him and the tiger began to cry asking for help. The serpent asked the deer to perform what he did before.

However, the deer said to himself, “Now I know that the tiger doesn’t fulfill his promises.” He left the serpent talking with the tiger and ran away. Then, the serpent looked at the tiger saying, “I can’t drag the tree. Stay under the tree, as you don’t fulfill your promises.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: النمر كاسر الوعد.

May I imitate You O Faithful in Your promises.

Let me be honest with You

And frank with myself and with my brethren

In order to hear Your Divine voice,

“You were faithful over a few things,

I will make you ruler over many things.”

A Bar of Chocolate

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

The Weak Tiger