The Mice That Ate Iron: A Tale of Deception and Retribution

The Mice That Ate Iron: A Tale of Deception and Retribution

Once upon a time, there was a small, peaceful village. In this village lived a rich merchant named Nami. Nami was kind and hardworking. He had a friend named Bindo, who was clever but sometimes a little greedy. Everyone in the village knew Bindo for his smart tricks, but they also knew he could be dishonest if it helped him.

Nami’s business was doing very well. He had many goods to sell, and people from nearby villages came to buy from him. But one year, bad luck came. A storm ruined his goods, and he lost almost everything. Nami had to sell all his houses, carts, and even his animals to pay the money he owed.

At the end, all Nami had left was a heavy iron beam. It was very strong and heavy. He decided to leave it with his friend Bindo for safekeeping.

He said to Bindo,
"Bindo, please keep this iron beam safe for me. I have to go far away to find new work. One day, I will return, and I will ask for it back."

Bindo smiled and nodded. But in his heart, he was already thinking, "If Nami becomes rich again, I can sell this iron beam and make a lot of money!"

Years went by. Nami worked very hard in a faraway city. He traded spices, silk, and other goods. Slowly, his money grew. He became very rich again. He bought new houses, carts, and animals. But he never forgot the village and his old iron beam.

One sunny morning, Nami decided to return to his village. As soon as he arrived, he went straight to Bindo’s house. He knocked on the door and said,
"Hello, Bindo! I have come to take back my iron beam."

Bindo put on a sad face and replied,
"Oh, Nami… I am so sorry. The iron beam… it is gone. The mice have eaten it."

Nami smiled a little. He knew Bindo was lying. He did not want to argue. Instead, he said,
"That is fine. But please send your son, my godson, to my house. I have some gifts for him."

Bindo’s eyes lit up. He thought, "If I send my son, maybe I can get some gifts too!" So he sent his son to Nami’s house.

When Bindo’s son arrived, Nami greeted him warmly.
"Come in, my dear godson. I have some gifts for you," Nami said.

But Nami had a plan. He gently took the boy and led him to the cellar of his house. Then he locked the door. He knew Bindo would come looking for him.

Soon, Bindo realized that his son was missing. He ran to Nami’s house and shouted,
"Where is my son? Give him back to me!"

Nami replied calmly,
"Oh no! A hawk flew down and carried your son away."

Bindo was furious. He could not believe what Nami said. He decided to go to the court and complain. The magistrate listened to Bindo and then called Nami.

In the courtroom, Bindo shouted,
"Magistrate! This man is lying. He has taken my son!"

Nami smiled and said,
"Your Honor, it is true. A hawk carried him away."

The magistrate looked confused.
"A hawk can carry a boy? How is that possible?" he asked.

Nami replied wisely,
"If mice can eat an iron beam, surely a hawk can carry away a boy!"

The magistrate thought for a moment. Then he asked Nami to explain everything.

Nami told the court the whole story: how Bindo lied about the iron beam, and how Bindo’s greed almost caused trouble.

Everyone in the courtroom laughed. Bindo felt very embarrassed. He realized his greed had almost caused harm to his own son.

The magistrate made a fair decision:
"Bindo, return the iron beam to Nami. Nami, return the boy to his father."

Bindo went home with his son and apologized.
"Nami, I am very sorry for being greedy. I will never lie again," he said.

Nami smiled and forgave him.
"It is okay, Bindo. We all make mistakes. Here, take these gifts for your son," Nami said.

From that day, Bindo changed. He became honest and kind. He never lied or tried to cheat again. Nami and Bindo remained the best of friends for the rest of their lives.

The villagers loved this story. They told it to their children and grandchildren. It was a story of honesty, friendship, and how greed can lead to trouble.

THE END


Moral of the Story

  1. Honesty is the best policy.

  2. Greed can lead to big problems.

  3. True friends forgive each other.

Even today, people in the village remember Nami, Bindo, and the Iron Beam. It teaches kids that being clever is good, but being honest is better.

Comprehension Questions and Answers

1. About the Characters

Q: Who were the two main characters in the story?
A: Nami and Bindo.

Q: What kind of person was Nami?
A: Nami was kind, honest, and hardworking.

Q: How was Bindo different from Nami?
A: Bindo was clever but greedy and sometimes dishonest.

2. About the Story Events

Q: What happened to Nami’s business at the beginning?
A: He lost all his goods because of bad luck and had to sell everything.

Q: What did Nami leave with Bindo before leaving the village?
A: He left a heavy iron beam.

Q: Why did Bindo lie about the iron beam?
A: Because he wanted to keep it and sell it for money.

Q: How did Nami trick Bindo when his son came to visit?
A: He locked Bindo’s son in the cellar to teach Bindo a lesson about lying and greed.

Q: What did Nami say happened to Bindo’s son?
A: He said a hawk carried the boy away.

3. About Lessons and Morals

Q: What lesson did Bindo learn from this story?
A: That greed is bad, and honesty is always better.

Q: What is the moral of the story?
A: Being honest and kind is better than being greedy or lying.

Q: How did the villagers feel about the story?
A: They loved it and told it to their children to teach them a lesson.

4. Thinking and Discussion Questions

Q: Do you think Nami was right to trick Bindo? Why or why not?
A: Yes, because he wanted to teach Bindo a lesson, but he did not hurt him or his son.

Q: What would have happened if Nami had not returned to the village?
A: Bindo would have kept the iron beam, and the lesson about honesty might never have been learned.

Q: How can we be like Nami in real life?
A: By being honest, kind, hardworking, and forgiving others.

Q: How can we avoid being like Bindo?
A: By not being greedy, not lying, and always thinking about the consequences of our actions.

5. Fun/Imaginative Questions

Q: If you were Nami, what would you do to get your iron beam back?
A: Answers can vary — children might say “talk nicely,” “ask politely,” or “find a clever way.”

Q: If you were Bindo, how would you feel after losing the iron beam and learning a lesson?
A: Embarrassed, sad, or ready to change and be honest.

Q: Can you make up a new ending for the story?
A: Children can use imagination — e.g., Nami and Bindo start a business together honestly.



The Mice That Ate Iron: A Tale of Deception and Retribution

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