Hunter and Snake: An Old Tale
This is another story from Reverend Peter Panagore, via Daily Devotions.
A hunter was escaping a woodland fire. In the middle of the fire was a rattlesnake fearing for her life. She called out, "Save me!" The hunter found a stick, tied his game bag to the end of it, held it out over the fire, and let the snake crawl inside. The hunter safely released the snake and said, "I've done you a good deed. Please return the favor." "I'll bite you now!" said the snake."Is that gratitude?!" cried the hunter. "Why shouldn't I take advantage of the situation?" said the snake."What do you mean?" asked the hunter."If it suits them, humans often return evil for good," replied the snake."No we don't. If you find someone who agrees with you, you may kill me," said the hunter."Let's ask this apple tree," said the snake.The apple tree said, "This snake's right. I give shade and apples for people. After resting beneath me, after eating my fruit, they look up and say, 'Nice wood,' and then they cut off a branch." A fox came by and the hunter explained the situation. The fox asked, "Why lie to me-a big snake like her can't fit inside that little bag."To prove that she could indeed fit in the bag, the snake slithered inside and the hunter quickly tied it shut.The fox said, "Those who return evil for good deserve their trouble."
Sources:The Hunter and His Wife http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/oprt/oprt20.htmOld Peter's Russian Tales Paperback - October 1, 2007 by Arthur Ransome, published by Aegypan (October 1, 2007)
A hunter was escaping a woodland fire. In the middle of the fire was a rattlesnake fearing for her life. She called out, "Save me!" The hunter found a stick, tied his game bag to the end of it, held it out over the fire, and let the snake crawl inside. The hunter safely released the snake and said, "I've done you a good deed. Please return the favor." "I'll bite you now!" said the snake."Is that gratitude?!" cried the hunter. "Why shouldn't I take advantage of the situation?" said the snake."What do you mean?" asked the hunter."If it suits them, humans often return evil for good," replied the snake."No we don't. If you find someone who agrees with you, you may kill me," said the hunter."Let's ask this apple tree," said the snake.The apple tree said, "This snake's right. I give shade and apples for people. After resting beneath me, after eating my fruit, they look up and say, 'Nice wood,' and then they cut off a branch." A fox came by and the hunter explained the situation. The fox asked, "Why lie to me-a big snake like her can't fit inside that little bag."To prove that she could indeed fit in the bag, the snake slithered inside and the hunter quickly tied it shut.The fox said, "Those who return evil for good deserve their trouble."
Sources:The Hunter and His Wife http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/oprt/oprt20.htmOld Peter's Russian Tales Paperback - October 1, 2007 by Arthur Ransome, published by Aegypan (October 1, 2007)
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