Aesop and His Master
Once upon a time, in an old Aegean town where the sun warmed the sweet-smelling orchards, there lived a clever slave named Aesop. Aesop was a wise man who won everyone's love with his sharp mind and his soothing, kind words. His master was a rich and kind-hearted merchant, but he suffered because of his proud wife, who was always grumbling. This haughty lady liked no one in the mansion and scolded the people around her without mercy. The peace of the house faded day by day, and even the cheerful birdsong in the garden was smothered by this gloomy air. On a hot summer day, the lady stood before the mirror and began to pour out her anger on the servants for no reason. “You cannot do a single task properly,” she shouted, and the whole mansion was in an uproar.
The helpless merchant did not know what to do, and with a deep sigh he looked for help. When Aesop saw his master in such sorrow, he quietly came closer and began to speak. “My lord, give me permission to ease your sorrow and to soften our lady's heart,” he said. When the merchant nodded and accepted, Aesop took an ugly, crooked piece of wood in his hand. Aesop came before the lady and offered her this piece of wood as carefully as a jewel box. The proud lady looked in amazement and asked, “What do you want to tell me with this worthless piece of wood?” Aesop smiled and answered, “Though it looks rough on the outside, this special wood bakes the tastiest bread when it goes into the oven.”
“And what use is a beautiful knife made of gold, if its sharp edge only wounds?” he added. Before these deep words of Aesop, the lady paused for a moment and felt a deep shame. For the first time she clearly understood her own hurtful behaviour and the harm she had done to people. From that day on she set her pride aside and began to show a smiling face to the servants and to her husband. The gloomy air of the mansion melted away, and everyone in the house was filled with peace and joy again. As for the merchant, he was grateful to his loyal and wise slave Aesop and felt endless respect for him. A person's true beauty lies not in their looks or their title, but in the kindness and gentle words they spread around them. A kind word draws the snake out of its hole.