THE KING WHO GREW KIND
A cruel King was riding out one day, when he saw a fox attack a hen. But just then a dog ran after the fox and bit his leg. The fox, however, lame as he was, managed to escape into his hole, and the dog ran off. A man who saw him threw a stone at the dog, and cracked his head; but at this moment a horse passing by ran against the man and trod on his foot. A minute later the horse’s foot stepped upon a stone, and his ankle was broken.
“Ah,” said the King. “This will be a lesson to me. I see that misfortunes always overtake those who ill-use others.”
And from that time the King became a kind and wise ruler of his people.
Punishment sooner or later overtakes those who wrong others.
