The Man In The Moon

: Nature's Riddles and Their Answers
: Laos Folk-lore Of Farther India

There was a blacksmith once, who complained: "I am not well, and my work

is too warm. I want to be a stone on the mountain. There it must be

cool, for the wind blows and the trees give a shade."



A wise man, who had power over all things, replied, "Go thou, be a

stone." And he was a stone, high up on the mountain-side.



It happened a stone-cutter came that way for stone, and, when he saw the

o e that had been the blacksmith, he knew it was what he sought and he

began to cut it.



The stone cried out: "This hurts. I no longer want to be a stone. A

stone-cutter I want to be. That would be pleasant."



The wise man, humoring him, said, "Be a cutter." Thus he became a

stone-cutter and, as he went seeking suitable stone, he grew tired, and

his feet were sore. He whimpered, "I no longer want to cut stone. I

would be the sun, that would be pleasant."



The wise man commanded, "Be the sun." And he was the sun.



But the sun was warmer than the blacksmith, than a stone, than a

stone-cutter, and he complained, "I do not like this. I would be the

moon. It looks cool."



The wise man spake yet again, "Be the moon." And he was the moon.



"This is warmer than being the sun," murmured he, "for the light from

the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a

smith again. That, verily, is the best life."



But the wise man replied, "I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be

the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain."



And in yon high heaven lives he to this day.