Abukashan was a wealthy merchant, notorious for his stingy nature. He
had a pair of slippers that were famous in town because they were
completely worn out. The slippers had outlived their lives but Abukashan
simply refused to buy a new pair.
One day he went to a
public bath, visited by all the rich and famous people. He left his
slippers outside and went into the shower. A few minutes later a judge
entered the bath leaving his new and shining slippers outside. When
Abukashan came out of the bath, he could not find his slippers, but saw a
pair of new slippers instead. He thought, some friend of mine must have
left these as a gift for me. So Abukashan wore the new slippers and
went about his business.
![The Troublesome Slippers, Folktales for kids: 7_2.gif](http://www.pitara.com/talespin/folktales/images/7_2.gif)
When
Abukashan was found, wearing the Judge’s slippers, he was brought to
court. Abukashan tried to explain his side of the story, but nobody
believed him. The judge imposed a heavy fine on Abukashan in light of
his great wealth and stingy nature. So he paid the fine, took his old
slippers back, and went home.
Abukashan was angry with his
slippers for causing him so much trouble. So he threw them out of his
window into the river below. Unfortunately, the slippers got caught in a
fisherman’s net, who was fishing nearby. The old, worn out slippers
damaged the net. Naturally, the poor fisherman was angry and he threw
the slippers back into Abukashan’s house. The slippers flew through an
open window, dashed against some valuable crystal displayed in the
house, and in a moment, Abukashan lost his favorite expensive vase.
Now
Abukashan was really very upset with his slippers. He knew he had to
get rid of them immediately. So he went to a nearby pond and threw the
slippers in. But as luck would have it, the slippers logged themselves
in a pipe that supplied water, and blocked the supply. When the water
supply people finally found what was blocking the pipes, they recognized
Abukashan’s famous slippers. So, once again, he was produced in court.
And, again, a very heavy fine was imposed on him.
A rather
unhappy Abukashan looked with disgust at his slippers. Throwing they
away just didn’t seem to be working. He decided he would burn them
instead. So he picked up the wet slippers and put them out on the roof
of his house for drying. As they were drying, the neighbors’ cat saw
them and started playing with them. Just then, a women carrying a heavy
load on her head was walking by Abukashan’s house. As the cat was
playing with the slipper, it fell off the roof and landed on the head of
the passing woman. Unfortunately the woman was pregnant and had to rush
to the hospital. Once again Abukashan was produced in court and once
again a very heavy fine was imposed.
This time Abukashan decided
to bury his slippers. So he came home and immediately started digging a
hole in his backyard. A neighbor saw Abukashan digging and thought that
he must be burying a treasure. According to the law of that land,
citizens were required to notify the government and pay a tax on all
treasures. The neighbor informed the government and once again Abukashan
was produced in court.
By now the Judge was quite fed up of
Abukashan, so he imposed an even heavier fine. Abukashan was now in
tears and pleaded to the judge, "Sir, I am tired of my slippers. I have
lost all my wealth just trying to get rid of them. Please take my
slippers and me into custody. At least that should prevent the slippers
from getting me into more trouble."
The judge was a kind-hearted
man, and he could understand Abukashan’s troubles. He said "As we go
through life we acquire different things and positions in life. We
should thank god for showering them on us. But at the same time we
should not get attached to them. We must realize that just as good
things come, they must go. We should welcome them and enjoy them, when
they come. And when it is time for them to go, we should not hold on to
them. We must learn to give up our old shoes at the right time".
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