Jataka Tales — Ellen C. Babbitt
Babbitt. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title : Jataka tales Author : Ellen C. Babbitt Illustrator : Ellsworth Young Release date : June 28, 2020 [eBook #62514] Most recently updated: October 18, 2024 Language : English Other information and formats : www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62514 Credits : Produced by Carlos Colón, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) Babbitt. Transcriber's Notes: Blank pages have been eliminated. Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the original. A few typographical errors have been corrected. The cover page was created by the transcriber and can be considered public domain. Babbitt. Jataka Tales /> Re-told by Ellen C. Babbitt With illustrations by Ellsworth Young New York The Century Co. 1912 Babbitt. Copyright, 1912, by The Century Co. Published, September, 1912 Dedicated to DOT Babbitt. FOREWORD Long ago I was captivated by the charm of the Jataka Tales and realized the excellent use that might be made of them in the teaching of children. The obvious lessons are many of them suitable for little people, and beneath the obvious there are depths and depths of meaning which they may learn to fathom later on. The Oriental setting lends an additional fascination. I am glad that Miss Babbitt has undertaken to put together this collection, and commend it freely to teachers and parents. Felix Adler. Babbitt. CONTENTS PAGE I The Monkey and the Crocodile 3 II How the Turtle Saved His Own Life 10 III The Merchant of Seri 13 IV The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking 18 V The Ox Who Won the Forfeit 21 VI The Sandy Road 25 VII The Quarrel of the Quails 30 VIII The Measure of Rice 34 IX The Foolish, Timid Rabbit 39 X The Wise and the Foolish Merchant 44 XI The Elephant Girly-Face 52 XII The Banyan Deer 58 XIII The Princes and the Water-Sprite 63 XIV The King's White Elephant 69 XV The Ox Who Envied the Pig 74 XVI Grannie's Blackie 77 XVII The Crab and the Crane 84 XVIII Why the Owl Is Not King of the Birds 90 Babbitt. PUBLISHER'S NOTE The Jatakas, or Birth-stories, form one of the sacred books of the Buddhists and relate to the adventures of the Buddha in his former existences, the best character in any story being identified with the Master. These legends were continually introduced into the religious discourses of the Buddhist teachers to illustrate the doctrines of their faith or to magnify the glory and sanctity of the Buddha, somewhat as medieval preachers in Europe used to enliven their sermons by introducing fables and popular tales to rouse the flagging interest of their hearers. Sculptured scenes from the Jatakas, found upon the carved railings around the relic shrines of Sanchi and Amaravati and of Bharhut, indicate that the "Birth-stories" were widely known in the third century B.C., and were then considered as part of the sacred history of the religion. At first the tales were probably handed down orally, and it is uncertain when they were put together in systematic form. While some of the stories are Buddhistic and depend for their point on some custom or idea peculiar to Buddhism, many are age-old fables, the flotsam and jetsam of folk-lore, which have appeared under various guises throughout the centuries, as when they were used by Boccaccio or Poggio, merely as merry tales, or by Chaucer, who unwittingly puts a Jataka story into the mouth of his pardoners when he tells the tale of "the Ryotoures three." Quaint humor and gentle earnestness distinguish these legends and they teach many wholesome lessons, among them the duty of kindness to animals. Dr. Felix Adler in his "Moral Instruction of Children," says: The Jataka Tales contain deep truths, and are calculated to impress lessons of great moral beauty. The tale of the Merchant of Seri, who gave up all that he had in exchange for a golden dish, embodies much the same idea as the parable of the priceless Pearl, in the New Testament. The tale of the Measure of Rice illustrates the importance of a true estimate of values. The tale of the Banyan Deer, which offered its life to save a doe and her young, illustrates self-sacrifice of the noblest sort. The tale of the Sandy Road is one of the finest in the collection. And he adds that these tales "are, as everyone must admit, nobly conceived, lofty in meaning, and many a helpful sermon might be preached from them as texts." Babbitt. Babbitt. Jataka Tales I. THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE PART I A monkey lived in a great tree on a river bank. In the river there were many Crocodiles. A Crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said to her son: "My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart of a Monkey to eat." "How am I to catch a Monkey?" asked the little Crocodile. "I do not travel on land, and the Monkey does not go into the water." "Put your wits to work, and you'll find a way," said the mother. And the little Crocodile thought and thought. At last he said to himself: "I know what I'll do. I'll get that Monkey that lives in a big tree on the river bank. He wishes to go across the river to the island where the fruit is so ripe." So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived. But he was a stupid Crocodile. "Oh, Monkey," he called, "come with me over to the island where the fruit is so ripe." "How can I go with you?" asked the Monkey. "I do not swim." "No—but I do. I will take you over on my back," said the Crocodile. The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on the Crocodile's back. "Off we go!" said the Crocodile. "This is a fine ride you are giving me!" said the Mon