Once upon a time, in a small town, there lived a wealthy merchant. He was a pious man who wished to build a magnificent temple in his garden. For this purpose, he hired many skilled carpenters and masons. Every morning, these workers came to the site, carrying their tools, and worked diligently until noon. At midday, they would leave their tools behind, take a break for their meal, and return in the afternoon to continue their work until evening.
One bright morning, while the workers were busy with their tasks, a troop of monkeys came chattering and swinging from the nearby trees. They often visited the site, for they were curious creatures, always watching the men at work. The smell of food, the sound of hammering, and the glitter of tools fascinated them.
That day, one of the carpenters was busy sawing a huge log of wood. The log was thick and difficult to cut, so he had only managed to saw it halfway. To prevent the heavy log from closing up and trapping his saw, he inserted a wedge firmly into the gap. Satisfied with his work, the carpenter put down his tools and went off with the others to enjoy his midday meal.
As soon as the workers disappeared, the troop of monkeys leapt down from the trees. They began to chatter loudly, hop around the site, and play with whatever they could find. Some jumped on the scaffolding, others rolled the tools here and there, while a few ran about chasing each other.
Among them was a particularly restless monkey. His eyes soon fell on the half-sawn log with the wedge fixed firmly in between. He was puzzled.
“What could this be?” he wondered. “Why is this piece of wood stuck in the middle of another piece of wood?”
Curiosity got the better of him. He climbed onto the log, sat astride it comfortably, and examined the wedge. He pulled it a little. It didn’t move. He pulled harder. The wedge creaked but still held fast. The monkey grew more determined. “I must take this thing out!” he thought.
So, bracing himself firmly, he pushed and tugged at the wedge with all his strength. At last, with a sharp jerk, the wedge loosened and came out in his hands. But the moment it did, the heavy log snapped shut with great force.
Unfortunately, the foolish monkey had been sitting with his legs dangling inside the gap of the log. As soon as the wedge came out, the log clamped down on his legs, trapping him painfully. He screamed and screeched in agony, but it was too late. The log had wounded him severely, and he could not escape.
The other monkeys, frightened by his cries, scattered and fled to the trees, leaving their companion to suffer.
Thus, the poor monkey paid dearly for his foolish curiosity and his habit of meddling in the work of others.
And so, the wise say:
“He who interferes in another’s work, without understanding it, surely comes to grief.”
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English Stories