XIV.
THE MONKEY WITH THE TOM-TOM.[1]
In a remote wood there lived a monkey, and one day while he was eating wood-apples, a sharp thorn from the tree ran into the tip of his tail, he tried his best to get it out but could not. So he proceeded to the nearest village, and calling the barber asked him to oblige him by removing the thorn.
“Friend barber,” said the monkey, “a thorn has run into my tail. Kindly remove it and I will reward you.”
The barber took up his razor and began to examine the tail; but as he was cutting out the thorn he cut off the tip of the tail. The monkey was greatly enraged and said:—
“Friend barber, give me back my tail. If you cannot do that, give me your razor.”
The barber was now in a difficulty, and as he could not replace the tip of the tail he had to give up his razor to the monkey.
- ↑ [Compare the story of “The Rat’s Wedding” from the Pañjâb, The Indian Antiquary, Vol. XL, pp, 226 ff.: where, however, a better moral from the tale is drawn.]
