Stories are a wonderful way to teach children important life lessons through imagination, emotions, and simple characters. The Tailor and the Elephant is one such timeless story that highlights friendship, behaviour, and the consequences of our actions. This beautifully narrated tale helps young readers understand values like kindness, respect, and how our actions come back to us.
Introduction to the Story
Short stories in English help children develop strong values and good habits. The Tailor and the Elephant story revolves around a gentle elephant and a hardworking tailor whose daily interaction turns into a valuable lesson.
This tale teaches children how behavior—good or bad—always returns to us.
The Tailor and the Elephant – Full Story
Once upon a time, in a peaceful village, lived a friendly elephant. Every day, the elephant walked to the river to bathe and drink water. On his way, he passed by a small tailor shop.
The tailor, a kind man, always greeted the elephant and offered him something to eat—usually a banana or some fresh fruit. Over time, the two became good friends, and the elephant eagerly stopped by daily for his treat.
A Day When Everything Changed
One day, the tailor had a heated argument with a customer. He was extremely upset and angry. At that very moment, the elephant stopped by his shop, as usual, expecting his daily treat.
But the tailor, still furious, behaved rudely. Instead of giving the elephant food, he took a needle and poked the elephant’s trunk sharply.
The elephant cried in pain. He was deeply hurt—not just physically, but emotionally too. His friend had behaved badly with him for no reason.
The Elephant’s Revenge
The elephant decided to teach the tailor a lesson he would never forget.
The next day, before stopping at the shop, he filled his trunk with muddy, dirty water from the river. He reached the tailor’s shop quietly. Then, without warning, he sprayed the muddy water all over the tailor and his neatly stitched clothes.
The entire shop was drenched with muddy water. Clothes were spoiled, and the tailor suffered huge loss. Only then did he realise how wrong he had been with the elephant the day before.
But it was too late—now he had only regret left.
Moral of the Story
“Tit for Tat.”
We should treat others the same way they treat us. Bad behavior leads to bad consequences.
This story also teaches children that:
- We should always behave kindly.
- Anger should never control our actions.
- Hurting someone—especially a friend—always brings regret.
Conclusion
The Tailor and the Elephant is a wonderful short moral story that teaches kids an important life lesson—every action has a reaction. Kindness brings kindness, and rudeness brings trouble. Children learn that good behavior and respect are essential in every relationship.
Such stories make learning simple, joyful, and memorable for young minds.