In Lesson 9 of Book I for English 1st Year, we delve into the captivating folk tale titled “The Foolish Quack.” As the sun descended one evening, weary travelers took refuge beneath a cluster of trees, allowing their camels to graze freely. Fate intervened when one of the camels wandered into a melon field, swallowing a melon whole. The anxious owner resorted to an unconventional solution, tying a blanket around the camel’s throat and striking it forcefully to dislodge the melon.
Astonishingly, the melon shattered within the camel’s throat, facilitating its swift ingestion. Witnessing this peculiar incident, a bystander decided to exploit the situation. Presenting himself as a skilled doctor in the next village, he claimed to cure goiters. An elderly woman, plagued by a massive goiter, pleaded for his help. With a sinister plan in mind, the quack followed a similar procedure, leading to the woman’s tragic demise.
The villagers, aghast at the deceitful act, apprehended him, planning to present him before the king. After some debate, they decided to make him dig the woman’s grave, and upon completion, they administered a sound beating before releasing him. Undeterred, the cunning quack continued his charades in the next village, proclaiming his expertise in curing goiters.