Once upon the
time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day
his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such
bad luck,” they said sympathetically.
“May be,” the
farmer replied.
The next
morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How
wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.
“May be,”
replied the old man.
The following
day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his
leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.
“May be,”
answered the farmer.
The day after,
military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing
that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated
the farmer on how well things had turned out.
“May be,” said
the farmer.
