Once, there was a tailor who believed that he was the best in the world. He wanted to become rich and famous! So, he closed his shop, packed his bags and left on a world tour.
One day, he saw a huge tower reaching up high into the clouds. Around the tower there was a dense forest. The tailor started walking towards the tower to find out who lived there. But before he could reach it, the tower started moving towards him. The frightened tailor soon realised that it was a giant.
The giant asked him in a loud, thunderous voice, “What do you want?” The scared tailor replied, “Oh sir, I have come to earn a living here. If you agree, I will be your servant.”
The giant was happy. He said, “I will pay you very well if you work for me. Now, go and fetch some water.”
By this time, the tailor had become less scared and boasted, “Only water! I can bring you the well and even the spring, if you want.” And he got two buckets full of water for the giant.
Later, the giant asked the tailor to get wood from the forest and the tailor boasted, “Only wood! I can bring the whole forest if you want.”
Thoroughly upset with the tailor’s boastful talk, the giant decided to teach him a lesson. The next morning, the giant took him to a marsh. He pointed to a willow branch hanging over the marsh and said, “Do you see that willow branch? I want you to bring that to me. And you have to break it with the weight of your own body, not with an axe.”
The over-confident tailor smugly replied, “It is as simple as a child’s play. It is a simple task.” He went and sat on the branch. The branch broke due to his weight and the tailor fell into the marsh along with the branch.
The tailor cried for help, but the giant said, “Can’t you get out of this marsh yourself? You are such an expert in everything. I can’t give you a helping hand.”
The tailor was very ashamed. “Please save me,” he pleaded, “I realise my mistake now. I will not boast any more. I promise you.” The giant saw that the tailor was really sorry about his behaviour. So, he pulled him out of the marsh. The tailor worked for the giant for many years, but never did he boast again. At last, he had learnt his lesson.
