A Farmer and His Sacks

Once there was a farmer who was taking some sacks of wheat to a mill. The mill was a few kilometres away from his home. He put the heavy sacks on the back of his horse and started his journey.

On the way, the horse suddenly stumbled. One of the sacks fell to the ground. The farmer tried to lift it, but the sack was too heavy for him. There was nobody nearby to help him.

The farmer became worried. He thought, “If I leave the sack here, I will lose my wheat. But I cannot lift it alone.” He did not know what to do.

After some time, he saw a horseman coming towards him. As the man came nearer, the farmer recognized him. He was a rich nobleman who lived in a large house on the top of a hill.

The farmer thought, “He is an important man. If I ask him to help me lift a sack, he may feel insulted.” So, the farmer said nothing. He stood beside the fallen sack and waited.

But the nobleman was not only a rich man. He was also kind and helpful. He stopped his horse, got down, and said, “Friend, I see that you are in trouble. It is difficult to find help in a place like this. Luckily, I have come at the right time.”

Then the nobleman held one end of the sack and asked the farmer to hold the other end. Together, they lifted the heavy sack and put it back on the horse.

The farmer took off his cap and said, “My lord, how can I thank you for your kindness?”

The nobleman smiled and replied, “You can thank me very easily. Whenever you see someone in difficulty, do your best to help that person. That will be enough thanks for me.”

The farmer thanked him again and continued his journey to the mill.

Moral: We should always help people in difficulty.