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You can’t please the world

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nyat Nhk
nyat Nhk

An old man and his daughter were travelling across the Sahara desert by camel. Along the way, they encountered three merchants who each gave them conflicting advice about whether the man or daughter should ride the camel, or whether they should both ride. With each new piece of advice, the father changed their arrangement, only to be told the new way was wrong too. Finally exhausted, the father left the decision up to his daughter.

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Matthew
James
Friday

 1
 You Can’t Please the World (An African folktale based on an Aesop fable.) Once upon a very hot morning in Cairo, an old man and his young daughter had to take a long journey across the Sahara. Naturally they needed to travel by camel, the ship of the desert. The old man thought about how best to travel and he decided that he should ride on the camel and his daughter should walk alongside. She should learn to show respect for her elders. After a few hours of travelling in the heat and dust, they happened upon a travelling merchant, resting at an oasis. The travelling merchant was shocked by the sight. “Why is this young girl being forced to walk on the hot sand with her young tender feet!? Old man, your feet are tough and leathery. You should be walking and your young daughter should be allowed to ride the camel in comfort.” The old man was shamed by this, so he dismounted and let his daughter ride atop the camel. The man
Matthew
James
Friday

 2
 thanked the merchant for his wise advice and continued on his journey. A few hours later they met another merchant travelling with a caravan of many other traders. The merchant was amazed at the sight. “Old man, why do you struggle along on foot whilst your daughter rides atop the camel!? Your camel is strong and fit. It has plenty of strength to carry both you both in comfort!” Surprised and pleased by this advice, the old man mounted the camel along with his daughter. He thanked the merchant and they continued on his way. A few hours later they met a third travelling merchant, travelling. The merchant was also shocked. “I can’t believe my eyes!” he exclaimed “Look at that poor exhausted camel having to bear the weight of you two! Get off and walk so the poor animal can rest.” Again shamed, the old man and his daughter dismounted and the trio continued on foot. However,
Matthew
James
Friday

 3
 soon the camel was too tired to walk so the old man and his daughter had no choice but to carry the camel. Not long later they came to a camp for the evening. There they met all three of the travelling merchants. All three of them laughed. “This is madness!” exclaimed the merchants. “An old man and a child carrying a camel.” At this point the old man stamped his feet and shouted “In the name of Allah the Merciful I have had enough! Each of you has told me to do something different. Each time I have tried to take your advise and please you. Each time it seems we are wrong! What am I suppose to do?” “You cannot please the world,” the first travelling merchant said. “You must do what you feel is right in your heart,” said the second travelling merchant. “Do so with no desire for praise, with no need to glory and you will do well,” said the third merchant.
Matthew
James
Friday

 4
 The old man sat down. He was hot, weary and thirsty. “Daughter, I leave it to you to decide what we should do.” The daughter looked at the three travelling merchants. She looked at her old father. She looked at the camel. Then she decided what to do. What do you think she decided to do?

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You can’t please the world

  • 1. Matthew
James
Friday

 1
 You Can’t Please the World (An African folktale based on an Aesop fable.) Once upon a very hot morning in Cairo, an old man and his young daughter had to take a long journey across the Sahara. Naturally they needed to travel by camel, the ship of the desert. The old man thought about how best to travel and he decided that he should ride on the camel and his daughter should walk alongside. She should learn to show respect for her elders. After a few hours of travelling in the heat and dust, they happened upon a travelling merchant, resting at an oasis. The travelling merchant was shocked by the sight. “Why is this young girl being forced to walk on the hot sand with her young tender feet!? Old man, your feet are tough and leathery. You should be walking and your young daughter should be allowed to ride the camel in comfort.” The old man was shamed by this, so he dismounted and let his daughter ride atop the camel. The man
  • 2. Matthew
James
Friday

 2
 thanked the merchant for his wise advice and continued on his journey. A few hours later they met another merchant travelling with a caravan of many other traders. The merchant was amazed at the sight. “Old man, why do you struggle along on foot whilst your daughter rides atop the camel!? Your camel is strong and fit. It has plenty of strength to carry both you both in comfort!” Surprised and pleased by this advice, the old man mounted the camel along with his daughter. He thanked the merchant and they continued on his way. A few hours later they met a third travelling merchant, travelling. The merchant was also shocked. “I can’t believe my eyes!” he exclaimed “Look at that poor exhausted camel having to bear the weight of you two! Get off and walk so the poor animal can rest.” Again shamed, the old man and his daughter dismounted and the trio continued on foot. However,
  • 3. Matthew
James
Friday

 3
 soon the camel was too tired to walk so the old man and his daughter had no choice but to carry the camel. Not long later they came to a camp for the evening. There they met all three of the travelling merchants. All three of them laughed. “This is madness!” exclaimed the merchants. “An old man and a child carrying a camel.” At this point the old man stamped his feet and shouted “In the name of Allah the Merciful I have had enough! Each of you has told me to do something different. Each time I have tried to take your advise and please you. Each time it seems we are wrong! What am I suppose to do?” “You cannot please the world,” the first travelling merchant said. “You must do what you feel is right in your heart,” said the second travelling merchant. “Do so with no desire for praise, with no need to glory and you will do well,” said the third merchant.
  • 4. Matthew
James
Friday

 4
 The old man sat down. He was hot, weary and thirsty. “Daughter, I leave it to you to decide what we should do.” The daughter looked at the three travelling merchants. She looked at her old father. She looked at the camel. Then she decided what to do. What do you think she decided to do?