The Oxen Carrying Manure
Once upon a time, in a charming Anatolian village where sweet-smelling flowers bloomed, there lived two great oxen. Known for their powerful muscles and their patient gaze, these two friends were the villager's greatest helper in every heavy task, from the plough to the cart. On a mild spring morning, they were harnessed to a heavy cart full of dung and manure, so that the fields might grow fertile. As the sun rose in the sky, the creaking of the wheels began to echo across the wide plain. But the smell of the damp earth and of the heavy load had thoroughly spoiled the mood of the young ox. The young ox wrinkled its nose and tried to chase away with its swinging tail the flies that swarmed over them. Turning to his old and experienced companion, he began to grumble with anger.
"We who are majestic animals, why must we carry this stinking load?" he burst out. "The other animals passing along the road look at us and mock us, our reputation is being ruined!" he went on complaining. He felt himself crushed under the heavy load, and at every step he dragged his feet a little more. The wise ox, however, went on walking calmly and with a dignified bearing, without breaking his stride at all. Looking at his young friend with affection, he drew a deep breath. "This ugly load that you see, however worthless it may look from outside, is the hidden source of life," he said. "If we do not feed this soil, neither will the ears of grain grow tall nor will warm bread come to our table," he added.
When they reached the field, the farmer spread the manure from the cart carefully over the freshly ploughed soil. That rich and generous smell of the soil replaced the unpleasant odour of a moment before with a sweet peace. At that moment the young ox realized that his own labour would in the future turn into a sea of bright green crops. Bowing his head in shame, he apologized to his old companion and turned back with pride. From then on he had learned to look not at the appearance of his work, but at the abundance that it brought. Even in the humblest labour there lies hidden a great value that feeds the shoots of the future. There is no mercy without toil.