The Bishop’s Generosity

People in the story

1. David-The bishop

2. Sheela-The bishop’s maid

3. A soldier with a broken leg

4. 2 Policemen

5. An inspector

6. The bishops brother-Jonathan

7. Sableye- the thief

[Once upon a time in India there was a soldier. He had a broken leg. He was walking with a limp. He went to a house and knocked at the door.

 Sheela opened it.]

Soldier: Can you give me a job.

Sheela: What work can you do with a broken leg.

Soldier: Oh, how ungrateful you people are. I come all the way form Sri Lanka to fight for your country, and I broke my leg in the war. And now I ask for a job and you tell me I can’t do any work.

Sheela: Oh, I didn’t say that. I asked you that what work can you do with a broken leg?

Soldier: I have a broken leg, but I can do lots of work.

Sheela: Can you take care of children?

Soldier: I can take care of them, but you should not make me run around.

Sheela: All children like to run around and play. I don’t think anyone would give you a job other than the bishop, go and ask him.

Soldier: Okay, where does the bishop live?

Sheela: You’re standing in front of his house.

Soldier: Are you saying that the bishop lives here in this ordinary house. He is almost like a king he should be given a palace to live in.

Sheela: He was given a palace with 30 rooms when he first arrived. But then he paid a visit to the hospital. There he saw 30 patients squeezed in 3 rooms, and in the palace there were 3 people in 30 rooms. He said that there was a mistake. So he moved into the hospital, and gave the palace to the patients.

Soldier: How strange, to give up a palace for a three bedroom house.

Sheela: Yes, the bishop is a very unusual person. But he is very kind. He does everything for the good of the people. So I am sure that he would give you a job.

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[David is sitting down to eat he calls out for every one. They all come to the dining table and sit down.]

Sheela: We better lock the door from now on. If anyone wants to come in they will have to knock. 

David: We always leave the door open. What’s so special about today?

Sheela: A notorious robber was released just the other day.

Jonathan: Yes, I have heard of that. He was in jail for nineteen years. I agree with Sheela, we must not keep the door open any more.

David: You’re just overreacting. He was in jail for nineteen years, he would have learnt not to be a thief anymore.

Jonathan: No David, for once, as a brother listen to me. The robber is going to break into our house and steal all our valuables.

David: Thieves break into houses because the doors are locked. If we don’t lock the door he would just walk in.

Okay let’s just forget about this. Let us discuss this after dinner.

          [Just then the doorbell rings. David opens the door. He saw a huge man with a scary face. He had dirty clothes on, and he looked terrible.]

Sableye: My name is Sableye and I must sleep here tonight, and have supper. And don’t worry I will pay for everything.

David: Sleep as many nights as you want. And you don’t need to pay us anything. Supper is ready. Come and sit down. My name is David. 

Sableye: That’s what everybody say’s before they know my true identity. Here’s my passport.

[Sableye took out a piece of paper from his pocket and showed it to David]

[David read it {This man has been in jail for nineteen years. He is a notorious robber.} David gave back the letter.]

David: I don’t judge between good or evil I just care for the good of the people.

Sableye: Doesn’t that frighten you.

David: The letter does frighten me but you don’t. Sit down supper is ready.

Sableye: You’re a strange innkeeper.

Sheela: ­­­(whispers to Jonathan) Who is this man, he looks so scary.

David: Sheela, would you give a plate to Sableye.

[Sableye opened his mouth wide and said to himself “These plates are silver”

          [They all sat down to eat. After they had finished supper, David gave Sableye a silver candlestick and showed him to his room.]

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[Sableye has slept and he is dreaming:-]

His Dream

          [Just then he woke up he said to himself “So this was a dream. So David does not know why I was thrown in jail.]

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[It is morning time and Sheela is searching for the silver plates.]

Sheela: Where is the basket of silver?

Jonathan: It is in the cupboard. I saw it last night.

David: What’s all the fuss about?

Sheela: David, have you seen the basket?

David: Yes it’s In the garden.

[David went and got the basket]

Sheela: But where’s the silver. Ah! I know where the silver is.

[She went to Sableye’s room, and the others followed]

Sheela: The silver is gone and so is your guest. And the window is open. This proves that Sableye has stolen the silver.

Jonathan: We have to call the police.

David: It’s a beautiful morning. Let’s not ruin it by bringing the police here.

Jonathan: But it is our silver. We have had it for so long I can’t remember when. So why can’t we call the police?

David: Our silver, why do you say that it is our silver? It belongs to anyone who needs it. And by the way you are asking the wrong question.

Jonathan: What, do you mean by right and wrong question?

David: It is very simple, if we ask the wrong question it will lead to pain, suffering an hatred. But if we ask the right question it will lead to happiness, love and compassion.

Jonathan: What are we going to eat in then? We do not have any plates.

David: Is it a rule that we have to eat in silver plates? Clay or wooden plates would be just as good.

[Just then the doorbell rang, David opened it. There was 2 policemen, an inspector and Sableye.]

David: Sableye, what did they do to you?

Jonathan: I wanted to put that poor man in jail. But now I can’t even look at him. I wonder how badly they have beaten him.

1^st Policeman: Your majesty, I am sorry to disturb you of your morning. This man says he was a guest at your house yesterday.

[Sableye was groaning]

The inspector: Shut up, don’t groan like that in front of the bishop.

Sableye: The bishop, and all this time I was calling him innkeeper.

2^nd policeman: Shut up, he says you have given him the silver.

The inspector: Did you really give him the silver?

David: Sableye, why didn’t you tell the police that the silver was a gift? And why didn’t you take your candlesticks?

The inspector: Do you mean that this man is telling the truth? Never In my life have I seen a thief telling the truth. Shall we leave him here?

David: Yes.

The inspector: We will be in the neighbourhood after you finish talking with him, we will escort him out of town.

David: There won’t be any need for escorting. I don’t think he will commit crime anymore.

[David showed Sableye into the house]

David: Sit down Sableye.

Sableye: Sit down in front of the bishop.

David: Sit down, in front of a brother. And don’t forget your promise.

Sableye: Promise, what promise?

David: You promised to sell that silver for a reasonable price. Can you do that little favour?

Sableye: I will do anything for you, if you ask me to die, I will do so happily.

David: I am asking you to live happily and give up the life of a thief.

[Sableye hanged his down his head sheepishly and he lived happily ever after.]