One-minute wisdom

Author: (English) Margaret Sullivans / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: A Beautiful Friendship
Once there was a beautiful woman who often walked through the streets of the city. Wherever she went, people noticed her, and everyone wanted to talk to her, listen to her, ask her questions, and spend time with her. In the same city, there was a poor girl who wore ragged clothes. Although she was also beautiful, no one paid attention to her or was willing to associate with her. She was both lonely and sorrowful. She often gazed at the beautiful, elegantly dressed woman, watching how people adored and followed her. She longed for people to notice her too. Her heart was so full, and she was willing to share it with others, but no one was willing to listen.
One day, the ragged little girl mustered the courage to timidly say to the elegant woman, "Please forgive me, may I ask you for a favor?" The kind-hearted woman turned around immediately, smiling at the poor girl, "Of course, what can I do for you?"
The little girl wanted to test her luck. She said, "This is it: you are very beautiful and dressed very elegantly. Everyone notices you, but I am poor and have no fine clothes. People don’t even see me. If I could hide in your beautiful cloak and walk with you on the streets, just for one day, I would be so happy. Because if people stop to look at you, they would also notice me. I have very important things to tell them. If they knew, they would find it very valuable."
The elegant and noble woman immediately agreed to the little girl’s request. The next morning, she put her fine shawl over the little girl’s shoulders, and they walked together through the streets. At every turn, just like always, people stopped to admire the beautiful woman, and they also noticed the little girl wrapped in the elegant woman’s beautiful clothes. As they walked, the beautiful woman talked with the little girl. She asked about everything, showing great interest in what she said. She discovered that the poor little girl wrapped in rags was actually full of wisdom.
The two quickly became the best of friends. They were so close that from then on, they never separated. To this day, they are still together, walking all over the world.
A Retelling of a Traditional Story P2