英语童话故事：大象找朋友

　　很久之前在一个小村庄里住着婆罗门人，他们一起长大成为了好朋友。其中三个人知识渊博，剩下的那一位却大多数时间都在吃和睡，大家都认为他很蠢。后来一场饥荒袭击了村子。四个好朋友决定离开。在途中他们碰见了一堆狮子的骨头。其中一个博学的人说他能把狮子骨头变成活生生的狮子……

　　Once upon a time in a small village lived four Brahmins named Satyanand, Vidhyanand, Dharmanand and Sivanand. They had grown up together to become good friends. Satyanand, Vidhyanand and Dharmanand were very knowledgeable1. But Sivanand spent most of his time eating and sleeping. He was considered foolish by everyone.

　　Once famine struck the village. All the crops failed. Rivers and lakes started to dry up. The people of the villages started moving to other villages to save their lives.

　　“We also need to move to another place soon or else we will also die like many others," said Satyanand. They all agreed with him.

　　“But what about Sivanand?" Asked Satyanand.

　　“Do we need him with us? He has no skills or learning. We cannot take him with us," replied Dharmanand. “He will be a burden on us."

　　“How can we leave him behind? He grew up with us," said Vidhyanand. “We will share what ever we earn equally among the four of us."

　　They all agreed to take Sivanand along with them.

　　They packed all necessary things and set out for a nearby town. On the way, they had to cross a forest.

　　As they were walking through the forest, they came across the bones of an animal. They became curious and stopped to take a closer look at the bones.

　　“Those are the bones of a lion," said Vidhyanand.

　　The others agreed.

　　“This is a great opportunity to test our learning," said Satyanand.

　　“I can put the bones together." So saying, he brought the bones together to form the skeleton2 of a lion.

　　“Dharmanand said, “I can put muscles and tissue on it." Soon a lifeless lion lay before them.

　　“I can breathe life into that body." said Vidhyanand.

　　But before he could continue, Sivanand jumped up to stop him. “No. Don't! If you put life into that lion, it will kill us all," he cried.

　　“Oh you coward3! You can’t stop me from testing my skills and learning," shouted an angry Vidhyanand. “You are here with us only because I requested the others to let you come along."

　　“Then please let me climb that tree first,’ said a frightened Sivanand running towards the nearest tree. Just as Sivanand pulled himself on to the tallest branch of the tree Vidhyanand brought life into the lion. Getting up with a deafening4 roar, the lion attacked and killed the three learned Brahmins.