(An adaptation of a Chinese parable)
In a small village in China, a farmer lived, like so many other farmers.
He never spoke much, and on his face there was always the calmness of a contented, gentle person.
He had a son and a horse. One day, the horse disappeared, and everyone in the small village passed by the farmer's house to express their condolences for the misfortune that had befallen him.
“Oh! Your horse is lost. What a misfortune!” they all told him.
“Perhaps,” he answered, who never spoke much.
The next day, the horse returned... And not alone. Five more, young, strong, beautiful horses came with it.
“Oh! What an unexpected fortune! What a blessing! So many horses!”,
the neighbours said, congratulating the farmer.
“Perhaps,” he answered, who never spoke much.
The joy his son felt seeing those horses was indescribable, and the following day,
riding the liveliest of them, he fell and broke his leg.
“Such a pity! The boy..." the neighbours said again,
“What α misfortune during his play! He will have to remain still for a long time!”
“Perhaps,” said the farmer, who never said much.
The next day, the Recruitment Officers passed by the farmer’s house. They were enlisting patriots in the war.
If a soldier had a horse, he would be enlisted along with his horse.
The Recruitment Officers did not take the boy with them, because he had a broken leg,
nor the horse.
Thus, the wise farmer was not left alone during that challenging time of war.
Perhaps because he never says much.
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