Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between rolling hills and dense forests, there lived a kind-hearted farmer. He was known throughout the village for his generosity and compassion. One cold winter morning, as the sun barely broke through the clouds, the farmer found a small, shivering snake curled up in a heap of leaves at the edge of his field.
The farmer, feeling a surge of pity, reached down and gently picked up the snake. He realized that the snake was not dead but merely frozen from the cold. With a warm place to rest, the snake would soon recover. The farmer placed the snake in his coat pocket and hurried home.
At home, the farmer carefully placed the snake in a warm, cozy spot. He covered it with a blanket and went about his daily chores, occasionally checking on the snake to ensure it was recovering well.
As the days passed, the snake gradually regained its strength. It was time for the snake to return to the wild, but the farmer, still touched by the snake’s plight, hesitated to let it go. He knew that once the snake was free, it might not be kind to him, but his heart was filled with a sense of gratitude for the snake’s recovery.
One evening, as the farmer was preparing to release the snake, he noticed that it had grown much larger and seemed quite healthy. With a heavy heart, he knew it was time to let the snake return to its natural habitat.
The farmer opened the door to the shed where the snake had been staying and stepped back. The snake, now much larger than before, slithered out and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
The next morning, the farmer went to his field to check on his crops. As he walked through the field, he heard a hiss behind him. He turned to see the snake, now much larger and more menacing, coiled in front of him.
The snake hissed again, and the farmer realized with horror that the snake had not forgotten the kindness he had shown. It was now ready to repay him for his compassion, but not in a way the farmer had anticipated.
The farmer tried to back away, but the snake lunged forward, its fangs bared. In a desperate attempt to save himself, the farmer raised his hands to protect his face. The snake struck, and the farmer felt a sharp pain as its fangs pierced his skin.
The farmer fell to the ground, unable to move. The snake, now free from the bonds of gratitude, slithered away into the forest, leaving the farmer to lie in the cold, lifeless field.
The villagers found the farmer the next morning, lying among his crops, his lifeless body surrounded by the remnants of his kindness. They were saddened by his fate, but they also learned a harsh lesson about the nature of wild animals and the dangers of showing kindness to those who might not deserve it.
And so, the tale of the farmer and the snake became a cautionary story told throughout the village, reminding everyone of the complexities of the human heart and the unpredictable nature of the world.
