Once upon a time there stood on the banks of a river, near a large forest, a village of Woodcutters. These Woodcutters would go in their boats to the forest and there they would chop down trees. Then they would roll the logs down to the river, and the river would carry the logs to the village, where they were cut into boards and used by the carpenters in building houses and temples.
One day, as the Woodcutters were working in the forest, they heard a strange noise. It sounded like an elephant, but it was not like any elephant they had ever heard before.
When they went to see what it was, they found a big, white elephant standing near a pool in the forest, dabbing its sides with water, with its trunk and flapping its ears.
The Woodcutters were amazed but also afraid of the white elephant. They had never seen anything like it before. They decided to tell the wise man of the village about the strange elephant.
The wise man listened to the Woodcutters and then said, 'The white elephant is a rare and magical creature. It has been sent to the forest for a reason. We must treat it with respect and kindness.'
The Woodcutters followed the wise man's advice and started leaving food and water for the white elephant. They also made sure to keep the other animals away from the white elephant, so it felt safe.
As time went by, the white elephant became a beloved member of the forest. It would even help the Woodcutters in moving the logs by gently nudging them in the right direction.
The village and the forest became famous for the white elephant, and people from far and wide came to see it. The white elephant brought joy and wonder to all who saw it.
From that day on, the village of Woodcutters and the forest were known as the home of the magnificent and magical white elephant, and they lived happily ever after.
Reflection Questions