The Wise Old Owl.

Keeping with the wood theme the next story has a moral at the end. It is called:

The Wise Old Owl.

Once upon a time long, long ago, a large group of owls came to settle in a wood. The wood was full of lovely green trees and they were each allowed to pick a tree of their choice to build their nests.

Each of the young owls chose a green, luscious, and healthy tree for themselves but there was an old owl in the group and the younger owls forced him to live in an old half dead looking tree. The old owl had to be satisfied with his tree and settled down for the day.

As time went by the younger owls who felt proud of their trees would tease the old owl and would shout at him saying,

“Hey, old man, what’s the matter, couldn’t you find a nice tree. Your tree is half dead and dry looking, a bit like yourself” and they all laughed at him.

The old owl would silently smile, he was very wise. At times he would reply to their insults saying,

“Who knows whether you are lucky to live in your tree or if I am lucky to live in mine”?  However, the young owls would just laugh at him and fly away.

One day a group of woodcutters came into the wood in search of timber.  The tall green luscious trees were perfect for them and they took out their sharp axes and started to chop them down.  The young owls started making loud noises when they saw their homes getting destroyed but they couldn’t do anything about it. They had to sit helplessly and watch the destruction. 

Eventually the woodcutters came to the old and half dead tree, they said,

“No point in wasting energy cutting this old thing down. It’s of no use to us” So they left it where it stood and went on their way.  The old owl’s nest was spared.

So you see, sometimes what you think is a curse can sometimes be a blessing in disguise.