A LITTLE TALE By : Tanaporn Phomdam
As the two enemies looked up the tree, they saw vultures perching on the branches. The vultures were waiting for the corpse of the fall. The lion and the boar then realized. "We better be friends rather than fighting to death and be the meal of those vultures!" the lion said. "I think so. If both of us were weak and died, the vultures will happily devour our blood and flesh." the boar agreed. The thirsty animals became friends. They shared the water left in the pond and went away before the pitiful eyes of the vultures. The dry season had come. There was only little water left in the pond. Wild animals were in trouble. They fought with each other for water in the drying pond. One day a lion and a boar arrived at the pond. They quarreled with each other, claiming the right to be the first to drink water. Failing to compromise, they finally stepped to fighting. They fought a ferocious fight. The water under their feet turned muddy. Sometime later, exhausted from the fight they breathlessly parted from each other. 1
Vocabularies Claim (คเลม) n., vt. อ้าอ้ง Compromise (คอม-พโระไมส) vi., vt. ประนีประนอม, ยอมความ Corpse (คอพซ) n. ศพ, ซากศพ Devour (ดิเดิฝาร) vt. สวาปามเขมือมืบ, กินกิอย่าย่งตะกละตะกลาม Ferocious (ฟิโรชัสชั ) adj. ดุเดุดือดืด, ดุร้ดุาร้ย Quarrel (ควอ-เร็ล ร็) n., vt. ทะเลาะ Vulture (ฝัล-เชอะ) n. แร้งร้ A lesson from the story : Fighting brings no good. To live with a caring and sharing mind will save ones from danger. 2
A hungry fox saw a shepherd's bread and grilled meat hiding in a hole at the foot of a tree. The fox hastily sneaked into the hole and ate all the food. As his belly was filled and expanded large, the fox was trapped in the hole. The poor animal groaned and moaned with fear. He struggled to get out. By that time, another fox passed near. Hearing the loud noise, he stopped and asked the trapped fox. "Why do you go in and make such a noise?" "I sneaked in to steal the shepherd's food. Now that my belly is too fat to get out." answered the poor fox. "That's because of your greed and stupidity. Why don't you bring the food out and eat it outside. Alas! You're trapped certainly because of your greed!" said the passing fox as he left the hole. 3
Vocabularies Expand (เอ๊คอ๊ซ-เพนด-) vi., vt. กาง, ขยาย Groan (กโรน-) n., vi., vt. คราง, ร้อร้งคราง Moan (โมน) vi., vt. คร่ำ ครวญ Sneak (สนีค-) n., vi., vt.ด้อด้ม, แอบ, ลอบเดินดิ Struggle (ซทรักรั-เกิลกิ) n., vi., vt. ดิ้นดิ้ , ดิ้นดิ้รน, ตะเกียกีกตะกาย A lesson from the story : Greed is a cause of danger and we all tend to create problems because of our own greed. 4
A deer had fled from hunters. He ran into a woodcutter and asked for help. The woodcutter said to him. "Go, hiding in my cabin and you'll be saved!." Next moment, a group of hunters arrived there. They asked the woodcutter. "Didn't you see a deer running in this way?" The woodcutter said nothing he just pointed to the direction of the cabin. The hunters did not pay attention to the hint. They went on in the other way to search for the deer. Seeing hunters went away, the deer left the hiding place and started to return to the forest. The woodcutter blamed the deer for his ingratitude. The deer said to him, "I'll surely appreciate your help if you had done as you said!" 5
Vocabularies Appreciate (แอ็พ อ็ รี-รีฌิเฌิอท) vi., vt. สำ นึกบุญบุคุณคุ Cabin (แคบินบิ ) n. กระท่อท่ม Hint (ฮินท) n. การบอกใบ้,บ้การพูดพูเป็นนัย Hypocrite (อินอิ-โอะตรีทรี) ผู้ทำผู้ทำตัวตัเป็นคนดีแดีต่ที่ต่ ที่แที่ท้เท้ป็นคนจิตจิ ใจเลวทราม, คนที่มืที่อมืถือถืสากปากถือถืศีล A lesson from the story : We should not trust strangers. And the traitor should not be thanked. 6
A fox fell into a deep well. Could not get out off the well, he swam around. When he was tired, he hooked the front feet to the wall of the well. By that time, a thirsty goat arrived and looked into the well. Seeing the fox, the goat said to him. "The well water makes you fresh, doesn't it?". "The water is cool and clean." the fox replied persuasively. "Come on, let's have a good drink!". Carelessly, the thirsty goat jumped into the well. He drank lot of water to satisfy himself. Then he looked up and alarmed by the steep wall. The goat said to the fox. The wall is so high. How can we get out?". The fox pretended thinking, then he said to the goat, "I know how. You just keep your head up, hook your front legs to the wall. I'll step on your head to go up there. Then I'll pull you out!". "Okay, I'll do as you said." the goat agreed promptly. The fox climbed onto the goat's back, shoulders and head. Then he jumped out of the well. With success, the fox started to walk away. "Help me as you've promised!" cried the goat. The fox turned to the goat, saying, "Silly goat, if you had as much brain as your beard, you would not blindly jump into the well as you had done. Now, you've seen my tricks, haven't you?". The fox said as he left the place. 7
Vocabularies Carelessly (แค-เลซลิ)ลิadv. ประมาท, เลินลิเล่อล่, ไม่คิม่ดคิ, สะเพร่าร่ Persuasively (เพิซพิเว-ซิฟลิ)ลิadv. โน้มน้าว, หว่าว่นล้อล้ม, เกลี้ยลี้กล่อล่ม Promptly (พรอมท-ลิ)ลิadv. ฉับพลันลั, ทันทั ใด Sensible (เซนซิเบิลบิ) adj. มีสมีติ,ติมีเมีหตุผตุล A lesson from the story : A sensible person will not risk doing things without thinking and looking with care. 8
A farmer came across a trapped eagle. He was pity with the bird. "Oh! Poor Eagle, if I do not set you free, you will be killed by the hunter." said the farmer and he freed the bird from the trap. The eagle felt deeply indebted to the kind-hearted farmer. One day when the eagle saw the farmer resting in the shade of a ruin wall, he said to himself, "The wall is tumbling now." The eagle then swerved down and snatched the farmer's kerchief, taking it away in his claws. "Give it back to me!" shouted the farmer, as he wildly ran after the eagle. The eagle dropped the kerchief back to the farmer and flew away. The farmer picked his kerchief and returned to his seat. As he arrived at the wall, he saw it was falling down. The farmer realized that the grateful eagle had saved his live. 11
Vocabularies Claw (คลอ) n. อุ้งอุ้เล็บ ล็ Indebted (อินอิเดท-อิทอิ ) adj. เป็นหนี้บุญบุคุณคุ Kind-hearted (lun-an) adj. ใจดี,ดีมีเมีมตตา Realize (รี-รีแอะไลส-) vt. ตระหนัก, เข้าข้ใจดี Snatch (ซแน็ช) vi.,vt. ฉก, ฉวย, จิกจิ Swerve (ซเวิฝวิ-) vi.,vt. โฉบ Tumble (ทัมทั–เบิลบิ-) vi.,vt. พังพั, ล้มล้ A lesson from the story : A kind-hearted and helpful person is loved and honored everywhere. No danger can harm them. 12
A pine and a teasel were neighbors. The pine was a tall tree with long slender leaves. The leaves swayed in the wind like young girl's hair, whispering beautiful melody. "I'm a majestic tall tree with sweet whispers. Rocks, birds, streams, and everyone want to listen to my song. I give a cool shade to those who come to me. Teasel, you are short and lack of beauty. You do not sway in the wind. Everyone want to avoid from your thorny bush." All day the pine crowed its pride and the teasel listen to it with tolerance. It did not want to quarrel with the pine. "My majestic trunk is useful in construction and making a boat. I can sing sweet melodies. Teasel, you have nothing to compare with me." Fed up with the boast, the teasel said to the pine. "Don't be so proud! Beware of the knife and axe!" One day, a man came to the pine with an axe in his hand. He looked at the tree, saying, "It's good enough to be a boat." Then the sound of the axe echoed in the wood and the beautiful tree fell down by the side of the teasel. "Now...you better choose to be a teasel." said the teasel. 13
Vocabularies Beware (บิ-บิแว-) vi. ระวังวั Boast (โบซท) n. คำ โอ้ออ้วด, คำ อวดอ้าอ้ง Construction (คอนสทรัครั-ชันชั ) n. การก่อก่สร้าร้ง Neighbor (เน-เบอะ) n. เพื่อพื่นบ้าบ้น Pride (พไรด) n. ความภาคภูมิภูใมิจ Proud (win) adj. ภาคภูมิภูใมิจ Thorny (ธอ-นิ) adj. เต็ม ต็ไปด้วด้ยหนาม Tolerance (ทอล-เอะเร็น ร็ ซ) n. ความอดทน Whisper (ฮวิชวิ-เพอะ) n. เสียงกระซิบ, เสียงใบไม้แม้กว่งว่ ไปมา A lesson from the story : Beauty might bring danger to its owner and do not boast too much of your goodness and prestige, for it will be your own harm. 14
Once there was a schoolboy. Everyday, when he came home from school, he brought with him stolen item such as book, pencil, or ruler to show to his mother. Instead of admonishing the son for what he had done, the love-blinded mother spoiled her son with the words, "Good, you are so cute!" The boy was so proud of his behavior. One day he brought a sweater a teacher left on the chair to his mother. "Mother, I have a new sweater for you." said the boy, taking the sweater out off his bag. His heart swelled with pride while his mother said, "Oh! How nice of you! Son, I am thinking of a new sweater...I'll wear it in winter." The boy started from stealing small little things and went on to the high prize items. When he grew up as a young man. He stole neighbors' cattle to sell in far villages. Lucks still be with him for the police could not arrest him. One day he robbed a bank and was arrested as he was fleeing with money. Hearing the news, his mother came to see him. He was dragged to the police car in handcuffs. The mother wailed, "Son...How bad...how dare of you to destroy our name!" Before getting into the car, the boy shouted to his mother. "Shut up! Stop wailing! If you admonished me when I stole books, pencils and things to please you, now I should not be in jail." 15
Vocabularies Admonish (แอ็ด อ็ มอนอิมอิ) vt. ตำ หนิ, ว่าว่กล่าล่ว, ตักตัเตือตืน Behavior (เฮฟ-เยอะ) n. ความประพฤติ,ติพฤติกติรรม Cattle (แคท-เทิลทิ) n. ปศุสัศุสัตว์,ว์ วัววัควาย Handcuffs (แฮนด-คัฟคัส) n. กุญกุแจมือมื Love-blinded (เลิฟลิ-บไลเดด) adj. รักรัจนตามืดมืตามัวมั Swell (ซเว็ล ว็) vi.,vt. พอง, ขยายใหญ่ A lesson from the story : To ignore little mistakes is to make more big wrongs. 16
A young deer came to drink water in a stream. Seeing the reflection of himself, the deer was satisfied with his majestic strong branches of horns. Shaking his head, he saw his horns like the crown of a king. However, when he looked at the reflection of his legs, he felt dissatisfied. "My dear legs, you are so thin. You don't go with my body." the deer said to himself. By that time, a lion appeared and attacked the deer for his meal. The deer ran in full speed. In such a wide meadow, the young deer could run rapidly. The lion could not catch up with him. His legs had saved him. Some day later, the young deer went to find food in a jungle. As he was delightfully chewing leaves, he was attacked by a tiger. The poor deer took his flight, but his majestic horns were entangled among branches of trees. He could not escape and became a victim of the tiger. As he was dying, the young deer cried, "Alas,...my legs I think of as my weak point had saved my life. My beautiful strong horns which pleased me so much, now turned to be my killer." 17
Vocabularies Appearance (แอ็พ อ็ เพียพี-แรนซ) n. สิ่งที่ปที่รากฏ, รูปลักลัษณ์ภายนอก Delightfully (ดิไดิลท-ฟุลิ)ลิadv. อย่าย่งยินยิดี,ดีอย่าย่งสบายใจ Entangle (เอ็น อ็ แทง-n') vt. ติดตินุงนุนัง, พัวพัพันพักันกั Quality (ควอล-อิทิอิ )ทิn. คุณคุสมบัติบั ติ Majestic (มะเจซ-ทิคทิ) adj. สง่าง่งาม Meadow (เมด-โอ) n. ทุ่งทุ่หญ้าญ้ Physical (ฟิส-อิ แค็ล ค็) adj. กายภาพ Reflection (รี-รีฟเลค-ชันชั ) ภาพสะท้อท้น, เงา Satisfy (แซท-อิทอิ ไฟ-) vi.,vt. พอใจ Victim (ฟิค-ทิมทิ) n. เหยื่อยื่ A lesson from the story : Don't judge someone by his physical appearance. Beauty is just one of qualities of things. 18
Hares of one herd were tired of living in fear of being hunted by man, eagle, wolf and all kinds of big animal, they finally elected a leader to take care of them. One day an eagle caught the hare leader and brought him onto to a tree. The bird tore the hare's flesh and ate it before the eyes of his followers. The pitiful animals groaned with sorrow, and they declared. "With no leader to protect us, we should drown ourselves all together to end the suffer of living in fear." The hares then went to a pond to put an end to their lives. Their tramps drove the frogs living around the pond to jump into the water. Seeing what happened, one of the hare got a second thought. He shouted to his friends. "Wait! All of you don't be so rash. Look at the frogs. They also suffer from fear. Just heard our tramps they jumped for their lives." The hares rethought. They chased away the idea of killing themselves to escape from fear. 19
Vocabularies Elect (อิเอิลคท-) vt. เลือลืกตั้งตั้ Experience (เอ็ก อ็ซพีเพีรียรีนซ) n. ประสบการณ์ Follower (ฟอล-โละเออะ) n. บริวริาร, พรรคพวก Hunt (ฮันท-) vi.,vt. ล่าล่, ล่าล่ สัตว์ Rash (แร็ชร็) adj. ไม่รม่อบคอบ, หุนหุหันหัพลันลัแล่นล่ Suffer (ซัฟ-เฟอะ-) vi.,vt. เจ็บ จ็ ปวด, ทรมาน Suffering (ซัฟ-เฟอะริงริ) n. ความเจ็บ จ็ ปวดทรมาน Thought (ธอท) n. ความคิดคิ Tramp (ทแร็ม ร็ พ) n. เสียงย่ำ เท้าท้ A lesson from the story : To learn from someone's experience of suffering might help ones to stand against fear and live with it in peace. 20
- . '' An entertaining story in which the characters are talk animals, kids will never get tired of following. and absorbing the teachings hidden in the stories without knowing ''