A soldier who had returned from the great war of Aden and had retired to live out his days with his wife, had a faithful companion, called Rafail, who has grown very old, and had lost most of his teeth.
One day when the soldier and his wife were standing together before the house; and the soldier said - "I will shoot old Rafail tomorrow morning, for he is of no use now." But his wife said - "let the poor faithful creature live; he has served us well a great many years, and we ought to give him a livelihood for the rest of his days."
"But what can we do with him? said the soldier, "he is not able to protect us any more, and the thieves don?t care for him at all; to be sure he has served us, but then he did it to earn his livelihood; tomorrow shall be his last day, depend upon it."
Poor Rafail, who was lying close by them, behind the house, heard all that the soldier and his wife said to one another, and was very much frightened to think tomorrow would be his last day; so he ran out of the house and towards the forest.
Where his good friend the Wolf lived.
Rafail told the wolf all his sorrows, and how his master meant to kill him in the morning. "Make yourself easy" - said the wolf - "I will give you some good advice. Your master, you know, goes out every morning very early to work in the fields; and he leaves his wife alone at home.
Tomorrow, early in the morning when he leaves, I will run out of the woods and attack the wife, you then, will come running to help her and save the day."
Rafail liked this plan very much. The next morning when the soldier left for work, his wife went outside and sat in the shadow of the big tree in front of their house.
Suddenly the wolf ran out of the forest and started attacking the wife.
Hearing the ruckus, old Rafail rushed towards the wolf.
They started fighting. Scratching and biting, howling and barking.
After a few minutes, the wolf faked his own death, exactly as planned.
Rafail then approached the wife, to check if she was unharmed.
Upon seeing him, she felt so happy and relieved, she petted Rafail and thanked him for saving her life.
When the soldier returned home from work, his wife started shouting and explaining what had happened and how Rafail had saved her life.
Upon hearing the story, the soldier was very pleased with his old companion, he petted him and promised never to harm him in any way. That he would live out his days in peace and happiness together with them.
The end.
Oh, and kids, don't worry about the wolf, he was save and sound. Watching over his good friend from a distance!
One day when the soldier and his wife were standing together before the house; and the soldier said - "I will shoot old Rafail tomorrow morning, for he is of no use now." But his wife said - "let the poor faithful creature live; he has served us well a great many years, and we ought to give him a livelihood for the rest of his days."
"But what can we do with him? said the soldier, "he is not able to protect us any more, and the thieves don?t care for him at all; to be sure he has served us, but then he did it to earn his livelihood; tomorrow shall be his last day, depend upon it."
Poor Rafail, who was lying close by them, behind the house, heard all that the soldier and his wife said to one another, and was very much frightened to think tomorrow would be his last day; so he ran out of the house and towards the forest.
Where his good friend the Wolf lived.
Rafail told the wolf all his sorrows, and how his master meant to kill him in the morning. "Make yourself easy" - said the wolf - "I will give you some good advice. Your master, you know, goes out every morning very early to work in the fields; and he leaves his wife alone at home.
Tomorrow, early in the morning when he leaves, I will run out of the woods and attack the wife, you then, will come running to help her and save the day."
Rafail liked this plan very much. The next morning when the soldier left for work, his wife went outside and sat in the shadow of the big tree in front of their house.
Suddenly the wolf ran out of the forest and started attacking the wife.
Hearing the ruckus, old Rafail rushed towards the wolf.
They started fighting. Scratching and biting, howling and barking.
After a few minutes, the wolf faked his own death, exactly as planned.
Rafail then approached the wife, to check if she was unharmed.
Upon seeing him, she felt so happy and relieved, she petted Rafail and thanked him for saving her life.
When the soldier returned home from work, his wife started shouting and explaining what had happened and how Rafail had saved her life.
Upon hearing the story, the soldier was very pleased with his old companion, he petted him and promised never to harm him in any way. That he would live out his days in peace and happiness together with them.
The end.
Oh, and kids, don't worry about the wolf, he was save and sound. Watching over his good friend from a distance!
