Folk-lore of the Telugus/Ingratitude
XXVI.
INGRATITUDE.
There was a tiger in a certain wood who used to kill and devour all the beasts that inhabited it. One day he caught a wild buffalo, and while eating it, one of its bones stuck in his jaws. Being unable to extract the bone, blood and puss collected there and caused the tiger a good deal of pain. The tiger laid himself down under a tree, and in great pain opened his mouth, and exclaimed thus:—"How shall I extract this? How shall I live? What shall I do?" In this distress he saw a crow upon the tree, and said to him:—"O crow, you see the pain I am suffering from; if you will but extract the bone and restore me to life, I will give you as much as you want from the food I procure every day." The crow was moved by this supplication, and taking compassion on him, entered his mouth from which he took out the bone, and asked the tiger for the flesh he had promised. The tiger replied:— "When you entered my mouth, I did not crush you under my jaws, but allowed you to come out uninjured. Ungrateful for this, do you ask me for flesh? Look to your business."
Thus people in prosperity often forget the friends who have served them in adversity.