Bad luck, good luck... who can say? (posted by Priya Deelchand)

There once was very poor man living in a village who had a
very fine horse. So fine, in fact, that the lord of the castle
wanted to buy it. But the old man always refused.

"To me this horse is not merely an animal. He's a friend.
How could I sell you my friend?"

One morning he went to the stable and found his horse gone.

All the villagers said, "We told you! You should have sold
your horse. Now he's been stolen instead. What terrible luck."

"Bad luck or good luck," the old man said. "Who can say?"

Everyone laughed at him. But 15 days later the horse returned,
followed by a whole herd of wild horses. He had escaped from the
stable, courted a young mare, and returned with the rest of
the herd following behind!

"What luck!" the villagers cried.

The old man and his son began training the wild horses. But
a week later the man's son broke his leg trying to train one of
the horses.

"Bad luck," said his friends. "What are you going to do now
without your son to help you? You who are already so poor."

"Bad luck, good luck, who can say?" the old man replied.

A few days later an army belonging to the lord of the land
passed through the village and forced all the young men to become
soldiers. All... except the old man's son, because of his broken
leg.

"How lucky you are," the villagers cried. "All our children
are gone to war, but you've been able to keep your son. Our sons
will probably be killed..."

The old man replied, "Bad luck, good luck... who can say?"

The future comes to us in bits and pieces. We never know what
lies in store for us. But if you always maintain a positive
attitude the doors of chance remain open, and you will be a
happier person.

Author unknown

Posted by Priya Deelchand