It was a magic book. The book was
meant for the cheerful and innocent children who cared for others and who were
kind to others. The book contained all the secrets of life and all the
knowledge of the world. And that book was visible only to those children who
were clear at heart and who were well-behaved to the elders.
The book contained all the
goodness and richness of life and waited for the right child to come and
discover it. So the book lay by the road side securely bound in a magic wooden
box. Many school children would pass by it kicking and then ignoring the muddy
rotten wooden-box. They happened to think it as some household waste. But it
contained the precious book-the book of eternal wisdom.
One day a little school-boy was
happily hopping along the way while returning from his school. He was cheerful
like a singing bird. He enjoyed the clear blue sky and the green paddy fields
on his way. That afternoon was bright and clear. The sun was throwing orange
rays everywhere and so everything looked elegant and playful. At a turn in the
road the happy school-boy saw a child of his age sitting sadly & lonely on
a rock by the side of the road. His shirt was torn, shabby and tattered. The
child seemed utterly unhappy.
Children are naturally happy and
care-free. They dance in the joy of innocence. They enjoy life to the fullest.
But this sad child was an exception. The miseries of life had robbed all his
playfulness. Now the long face of the child sitting on the rock suddenly struck
the school boy intensely.
The school-boy felt for the sad
child deeply. He went near the sad child. Opened his lunch box and handed him a
cheese sandwich which he had kept uneaten. The sad boy looked deeply into the
eyes of the school boy. Smilingly said the school boy, “It is for you. Now smile
and let us be friends.” The sad boy slowly took the sandwich and began to
smile. Both of them walked together for a while and at a cross road they parted
with a promise to meet again. The poor boy was no longer sad and he waved his
hands gleefully at his new-found friend.
On his way back home the school
boy saw the wooden-box shinning like emerald by the road side. He went near it
and touched it curiously. At his touch, all of a sudden the walls of the box
let loose and a book which was all golden flung open. The book was that magic
book which gave man the understanding of everything. It contained in it the
power of knowledge.
Like a flash of lightening the
book took the boy to the wonderful world of all knowledge. All types of
creatures, flowers, trees, fruits, fairies, toys and gardens with hanging stars
came out of the book and became the friend of the school boy. A beautiful fruit
bearing tree lowered its branches to the boy so that he can pluck some of its
luscious fruits. The boy could not believe his eyes. He plucked a fruit and
closed his eyes enjoying its delicious taste. When he opened his eyes he found
that same poor boy standing smilingly. But now the clothes of the boy were
shining bright like a silvery moon. He had now a crown on his head which had
many precious diamonds. And the boy took the hands of the boy and led him to a colorfully decorated swing. Both the friends sat cozily on the garden swing
and enjoyed a lot.
The school boy asked the other
boy, “Do you stay here? It is so beautiful!”
The boy with the crown replied,
“This is the garden of knowledge and my name is Interest. I am the owner of
this garden”
Now the school boy looked
intently at his friend and asked, “Why did you become my friend?”
The other boy told,” Knowledge
without love and care for others is useless. If you have love and care for
others then you have the highest order of knowledge. When I found the feelings
of care in you I thought to open the gates of knowledge for you.”
Some butterflies were flying
around these two friends. And the flowers were nodding their heads and singing,
“ O....O....O... Knowledge is life’s
flame/Love is life’s other name/Together they make a happy
game....O.....O....O.”
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