Just A Fable Story
This is my most favorite fable story I would like to share. From this story we get the proverb, ‘those who know little talk much, those who know much talk little.’ It means, if we have knowledge, there is no need to boast. But if those who actually have nothing that need to show off to the world.
Story Begins…
Mr Joshua, a man who lived in the Jin era, had three sons. He loved them very much and equally too. The three brothers, Aquilo, Brooks and Clay got a long with each other. “Big brother Aquilo, let’s go fishing today,” suggested Brooks. “Hm, that’s not a bad idea. Where do you want to go? The Flower Pond, The Windy Bay, or the Fairy Lake?” Aquilo asked.
“How about the Windy Bay? The scenery is good and it is not crowded as the others,” Clay the youngest brother pointed out.
The elder brothers nodded in agreement. While they busied themselves with the food to bring along and what to wear to go fishing, the youngest brother hurried about getting the bait and the fishing rods. Then he waited patiently for his brothers to finish their business.
“Where is my silky scarf? I need it to match my sandals!” grumbled Aquilo. “Why do you need a scarf when you are already bringing the umbrella and the hat?” Clay pointed out to his first brother.
“Do you think that five packets of rice is enough?” Brooks was very annoyed with his servant. ” There’s only three of us going to fish. Of course it’s enough,” Clay observed. “No, no, I mean for me alone,” Brooks explained.
By the time they actually went to fish, it was already late in the afternoon although they had started preparation early in the morning. Mr Joshua was worried about his sons. This was not the first time that things had happened this way. He wanted to improved his sons but did not know which son was the best to set an example.
“This will not do!” Mr Joshua said sadly to his wife, Ms Jade. “I ave to send them to a master to teach them.” “But how is the master going to teach them if he doesn’t know their good points and their fault?” Ms Jade wisely. “But I know of a wise man who can help us.”
“Who is this master?” Mr Joshua asked urgently.
“He is Master Gregory. He is good at writing poetry and painting. He is well-learned in history and the classical books. I’m sure he can help us to teach our sons,” Ms Jade comforted her husband.
The next day, Mr Joshua brought his three sons to pay a visit to Master Gregory. Ms Jade has already spoken to him, so he knew how to help them. “Take a seat and don’t be shy. Make yourselves at home,” Master Gregory invited them warmly. “I heard that all of you are intelligent boys!”
“Yes!” Aquilo said loudly and not shyly. “We are well educated. Ask anything and we’ll have an answer for you!” Brooks quickly added in boasting, “Besides knowing everything, we are also experts on somethings, like food.”
Master Gregory smiled at the two boys. Turning to Clay, “What about you? Do you have anything to tell me?”
“Master Gregory, my mother told me that you are a wise man. Please teach us and let our knowledge grow!” Clay bowed to the elderly master.
“Ho, ho,” the master laughed. Aquilo and Brooks joined in the fun too, although they did not know what Master Gregory was laughing about. Clay smiled politely.
At the end of the day, Mr Joshua came to fetch his sons home. He went to Master Gregory’s room to discuss the day’s events with him. “Master Gregory, how did you find my sons? Whom did you like best?” Mr Joshua asked anxiously.
“Clay,” came the reply.
“Why?”
“The words of good man are few, while those who know little, talk much. But just like their limited knowledge, what they say don’t mean very much too!” Master Gregory smiled at Mr Joshua.
(the story was taken from Bookworm Fables II by Bookworm Club, Bookworm Consultants Pte Ltd, 1990)
