There was once a poor farmer living in Madura, a small island known for its hardworking people and dry soil. He lived in a modest wooden house with his wife and their young children. Every day, the farmer woke up before sunrise and worked tirelessly in other people’s rice fields under the scorching sun. Despite his dedication, he only received a small wage, barely enough to feed his family when harvest sason came.
Deep in his heart, the farmer dreamed of owning a rice field—just a small piece of land where he could grow his own crops and provide a better life for his loved ones. But the price of land was far beyond what he could afford. One evening, after a long day in the fields, he sat down with his wife and shared his thoughts.
“I want to go to Java,” he said softly, yet with determination in his voice. “If I work there, maybe I can earn enough money to buy land. I want our children to grow up with a brighter future.”
Though his wife was worried, she understood his dream. With tears in her eyes, she supported his decision, knowing it came from his deep love for the family.
The farmer left his modest home at dawn, carrying only a small pouch of money and his hopes for a better life. As he walked toward the harbor, the salty wind of the sea brushing against his face, he noticed an old woman sitting by the side of the road. Her clothes were worn, her hands trembling, and beside her sat three thin, scruffy cats in a basket.
"Please help me, Sir," the old woman pleaded, her voice weak but sincere. "I’m hungry and have no money left. Would you kindly buy my cats? They're all I have left, and I can’t care for them anymore."
The farmer’s heart ached. He looked at the few coins he had—barely enough for the trip. If he bought the cats, he might not have money for food or shelter. Yet he could not bear to walk away. With kindness outweighing caution, he handed the old woman the coins and took the cats. Her face lit up with gratitude. She gave him a small bamboo cage for the journey and whispered, “These cats may bring you luck one day.”
Later, aboard the ship bound for Java, the sea was calm and the air gentle. But halfway through the voyage, dark clouds loomed. A violent storm rose quickly, tossing the ship like a leaf. The captain decided to dock at the nearest island—Mice Island. As soon as they arrived, the farmer heard frantic whispers among the islanders. Their homes were plagued by thousands of mice that devoured their food and ruined their harvests. No traps or poisons worked. The people were desperate.
Hearing their plight, the farmer remembered the cats. Though exhausted from the journey, the cats’ eyes lit up at the scent of prey. The farmer offered his help, and the villagers gratefully accepted. When the cage opened, the cats leapt out with fierce energy, chasing and catching the mice with sharp claws and swift movements.
As the days passed, the mice population dwindled. The island, once overrun by squeaks and shadows in the night, grew peaceful. The people were overjoyed. For the first time in a long while, their barns were full, their food was safe, and their children could sleep without fear. They could not thank the farmer enough. In deep gratitude, the villagers gathered together and gifted him gold, food, and enough money to change his life. The farmer, overwhelmed with emotion, bowed deeply. With a heart full of joy and a cage now empty, he returned to Madura.
Back home, everything changed. No longer a poor man, the farmer bought a piece of fertile land and planted his own rice. He built a stronger home for his family, with a sturdy roof and open windows where the sunlight could dance. Each harvest brought abundance, and laughter echoed in the house once filled with worry. The farmer had turned kindness into prosperity.
But not everyone was happy. His neighbor watched with envy, his heart burning with jealousy. "If he can become rich from cats, then so can I," the neighbor thought. Driven by greed, he gathered as many cats as he could find—dozens of them—and set sail for the island he had heard so much about.
After many days of travel, he arrived at the island, expecting a land still plagued by rodents. But something was different. A wooden sign greeted him: "Welcome to Cat Island." Confused, he stepped ashore—and was stunned. The island teemed not with mice, but with cats of every color and size. They lounged in the sun, curled in doorways, and chased butterflies through the fields.
The three cats the first farmer had released had not only rid the island of mice—they had stayed, multiplied, and made it their home. The villagers now lived alongside these feline protectors, and didn’t need any more.
When the greedy neighbor offered his own cats, the people burst into laughter.
"What? Are you serious?" said one of them, wiping a tear of laughter from his eye. "We have too many cats already! You’ve come way too late, friend!"
Embarrassed and humiliated, the man turned around, cats in tow. He sailed back to Madura, not with riches, but with the heavy lesson that kindness, not greed, brings true reward.
True wealth comes not from greed, but from kindness, patience, and the willingness to help others without expecting reward.
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| source: jongjava.com |
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