The False Doctor
Long ago, in a charming town where cool waters flowed, there lived a shoemaker named Ahmet. For years he earned his living by patching old boots, yet he could never escape poverty. Burning with the desire to grow rich, Ahmet one day decided to practise medicine. He cleaned and adorned his old shop and hung above it a large sign in gilded letters. He put a splendid robe on his back and introduced himself to the townspeople as an expert doctor. In a short time the fame of this false physician spread from mouth to mouth and reached even the palace.
The sultan's beloved daughter had been struggling to breathe for days because of a fish bone stuck in her throat. The palace guards came at once to the shop and hurried Ahmet into the sultan's presence. The ruler thundered, "If you heal my daughter I will cover you in gold; if you fail you will take your punishment!" Trembling with fear, Ahmet, who understood nothing of medicine, did not know what to do. The helpless false doctor decided to try his last chance by making funny movements. He put a comic mask on his face and began to jump about before the princess, making strange noises.
The princess, who had never laughed until that day, burst into laughter at this odd sight. As she laughed, the sharp bone in her throat flew out and the princess drew an easy breath. Seeing his daughter healed, the sultan joyfully gave Ahmet a great chest of gold. But Ahmet, unable to forget the fear he had lived through, knelt before the sultan and confessed his real trade. The ruler, admiring his honesty, forgave him and allowed him to return safely to his own shop. Ahmet never again attempted work he did not know and went back to his faithful hammer and needle. A person finds peace when he works with honesty and knows the worth of his own labour. The liar's candle burns only till nightfall.