Page 17 - Moral Stories Vol 1

Once upon a time a peacock and a tortoise became great friends. The peacock lived on a tree on the banks of the stream in which the tortoise had his home; and daily the peacock after he had a drink of water danced near the stream and displayed his gay plumage for the amusement of his friend.
One unfortunate day, a bird catcher who was on the prowl caught the peacock and was about to take him away to the market. The unhappy bird begged to his captor to allow him to bid his friend, the tortoise good-bye as it would be the last time he would see him.
The bird catcher allowed him his prayer and took him to the tortoise. The tortoise was greatly moved to see his friend a captive. The tortoise asked the bird-catcher to let the peacock go, but the bird- catcher laughed at the request saying that it was his means of livelihood.
The tortoise then said, “If I make you a handsome present, will you let my friend go?” “Certainly”, answered the bird-catcher, “that is all I want.” Whereupon the tortoise dived into the water and in a few seconds came up with a handsome pearl, which to the great astonishment of the bird-catcher, he handed to him. This was beyond his expectations, and he let the peacock go immediately.
A short time after, the avaricious(greedy) man came back and told the tortoise that he thought he had
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