Gain Without Pain

There was a poor man who wished to be rich in one day and without any energetic exertions. Therefore he went to a magician and begged him to invoke some spirits who would give him all he wanted. First the Magician tried to dissuade him but finding him resolute he gave him a charm.

The man went home in high spirit. Presently a gigantic giant appeared before him and thundered forth:-

"Order me, master, or I will kill you!"

The man shouted:-

"Make me a palace fitted up with every object of comfort."

No sooner said than done. The palace was there with everything that the man could wish. The giant called for more work, failing which he would kill the man. The man ordered a pretty garden with flowers, evergreen, fountains, tanks, beautiful birds and beasts and all that he could image and name in one breath.

The order was carried out in the twinkling of an eye. Then the giant called for more orders with his usual threat.

The man was at his wits' end and muttered out:-

"For the present I have no orders to give. I will think of others to-morrow."

"Then I must kill you," said the giant in a terrific voice.

Fearing for his life, the man ran and ran till he come into the presence of the magician.

"What is the matter?" asked the magician.

Grasping for breath the man cried out-"Save oh save, my Lord-Lo! the giant comes to kill me!

The giant, who had run after the man, was jut going to fall upon him, but stopped short at the command of the magician.

"Hold," he said, "what do you want with this man?"

"You know my rule," said the giant. "I will work for a man so long as he gives me fresh orders, but i must kill him if he fails to do so."

"Well," said the magician, "you want work, I will give you work. There lies a dog with crooked tail. Cut off the tail and make it straight."

The giant at once chopped it off, pulled it out straight, and hurled it on the ground. No sooner had he let it go it became twisted again.

"No," said the magician, "you must make it straight and go on doing that till it is quite straight."

The giant stretched the tail straight, but every time he let it go it got twisted again. So that gave him en endless occupation.

"Now, my son," said the magician to the man, "go and live in peace. Your palace and garden have vanished. Never again seek wealth without exertions. For such wealth is not free from the fear of a giant threatening to kill you. As far as this dog's tail, it shows that our worldly affairs can never be straightened. They seem to be straight at times, but get twisted again."