Long ago, there was a king in Bengal. His name was Ghiasuddin Azam Shah. His capital was at Sonargaon near Dhaka. He was very just and kind.

The king was fond of hunting. One day he was practicing archery beside a forest. By chance, an arrow pierced a boy. The boy instantly died. He was the only son of a widow. The widow was very much shocked. She went to the Quazi, told him everything and prayed for justice.

Long ago, there lived a shepherd in a certain village. It was a very beautiful village by a wood. There were open spaces in the wood covered with soft green grass. There were hills of different sizes and heights all around.

One day a hare met a tortoise. She laughed at the tortoise and said, “You have as many legs as I have. But I am sure; you cannot run as fast as I can. Perhaps, you can’t run at all.”

Androcles was a slave. He had fled from his master’s house. One day he saw a lion in the forest. He was frightened at the sight of the lion and he began to rum. Going some distance he turned round. The lion did not follow him. It stood where it was. It looked at him and also at its paw.

Long, long ago there lived a very kind and generous man in Yemen. Yemen was a province in Arabia. The name of that man was Hatem Tai. He was not rich. But he was very hospitable. People loved him. They praised him more than their king. So the king wanted to have him removed from the world.

Once upon a time there lived a very rich farmer. He had three sons. They were very healthy and strong. But they were very lazy. They spent their time in idleness and pleasure.

Sheikh Saadi was a famous poet, an earnest devotee and a great saint. His thirst for knowledge was unbounded and he travelled far and wide. He was held in high esteem by all for his wisdom, learning and piety.