The Peddler

Once a peddler was selling some fruits. Suddenly a masked boy came and snatched away an apple from the trolley. Then a masked girl came and took up a bunch of grapes and disappeared in crowd with a speed running. The poor peddler was crying in the wilderness as he couldn't run after the two kids leaving his trolley behind. Then he thought it was useless to chase the boy and girl for only an apple and a bunch of grapes. Because there was more varieties of fruits and plumps on his trolley.

Next day he changed his venue. He moved his trolley on to a children's park. It was the winter noon. After some time a tall customer came and he purchased all the plums and fruits by paying a reasonable price to the peddler. Then his trolley was vacant. He was very surprised for this type of purchase. However he thanked God as to have a chance for a good deal of business that day.

Next day the same peddler pushed on his trolley to an orphanage of the town. He halted there and began to sell his stuffs. After sometime he marked that that tall customer who bought all the fruits from him yesterday is coming out of the orphanage. He was amazed at seeing him and he called him, "O dear Sir please come today I have brought more fruits including date palms and raisin. "

Then the tall man strode up to him and asked, " Dear Chum why did you call me unnecessarily. Just I am coming to you. I have an important talk with you ". " What talk? asked the peddler " Then tall man told, " Yes two kids of our orphanage have stolen an apple as and a bunch of grapes day before yesterday. Don't take them amiss. I was absent that day. One of our orphanage boy fell suddenly sick due to viral fever. The boy rushed to nearby clinic and called the doctor in. After checkups the doctor prescribed for medicine.

As I am the Superintendent-cum-owner the doctor waited for me to take his fees. The boy bought medicines from our regular shop and fed the sick. As doctor advised to feed him some fruits as diet he suddenly ran to you. But in hurry he could not search out the money purse. So he snatched away an apple from your trolley because he was worried for his ailing room mate. Yesterday also I was absent. So the little girl being unable to find out the purse, she ran up to your venue and stealthily snatched away a bunch of grapes to feed her room mate who was sick. My orphan kids are very fine. They were bound to steal your stuffs. They are not truly pilferers. So don't take them amiss. They are also scholars of our orphanage school. So I came to pay the cost the fruits. Please take., "

After coming to know the fact the peddler told with tearful eyes and folded hands, " Dear Sir please excuse me I can never receive the costs from you. God will be angry. It was my fortune that the kids took off the fruits. I remember the story of Sir Oscar Wilde ' The Selfish Giant ' that I have read in my HSC. So please don't make me a sinner before God. Please take some more fruits from me without cost so as to making my soul delighted." Then the tall man said, " No it'll be very indecent if you don't take the cost of the fruits. I know, though you are poor man, your heart is ever rich. You have also got the proper human quality. On the other hand if you don't take you must suffer loss. Please take the cost. "

The peddler began to cry and lay flat in front of the tall man by stretching his hands and requested, " No Sir I beg your pardon. I can never take the cost any way. Moreover I pray you Sir to please take half kilo of each fruits and give to our loving kids on my behalf as a token of love. " The tall man asked, " It's cost? " " Sir again you underestimate my love. Please take the parcels made by me without making me more humiliated Sir. It is cordial presentations to the kids in the kingdom of heaven. Love is the more powerful vitamin than money for kids. " The sincere and cordial solicitation of the peddler stunned the tall man. He was taken aback by the affectionate bond laid down before him by the poor peddler. His stubbornness yielded. He took the ten number polyethene bags full of fruits and plums. He also accompanied with the peddler up to the orphanage.

The tall man cum superintendent said, " O my dear friend take these packets. Please yourself distribute the fruits and plums among the children. Now it is 8 am. Breakfast time. They will eat it happily. " The peddlers did so. All the inmates of orphanage seemed very happy and cheerful while taking their breakfast lovingly given by the poor peddler. The tall man was feeling the ecstasy while he observed this scene inside the drawing room of the orphanage. The break fast was over after half an hour. The peddler wanted to depart because of his business. After giving immense thanks to the Superintendent while he turned his face towards the exiting doorstep, at once two thieving kids stood up in front of him and said, " Dear peddler uncle please forgive us for our guilt. God must be angry upon us if you don't forgive us. We have done this under the pressure of the circumstances. Please forgive us. "

While the peddler heard the statement of apologies his heart began to melt and became softer than before. He suddenly embarrassed the kids with a soothing voice, "My dear little birds! you always stick to your career without negligence since now on so that you must keep up the name and fame of your motherland. I never wish you to be a poor man like me. My blessings is always with you. I pray Almighty God to save you from all types of adversities in future. I also want you to be well established in the modern society. OK dear kids I am leaving. Stay blessed always. Then being embraced by the tall man he again came back to his work field. All the inmates of the orphanage stood up in a queue and bid goodbye to their loving uncle ' The Peddler ' with a miraculous feeling as if God was showering his flowery drops of blessings on their heads from His Paradise.