There was once a painter who can paint very well than any others in his country. Despite of his talent, he was not highly valued by the King. The King himself was also a great painter and was jealous about the painter’s skills. So, he was forced by the King, to leave the country.
With no place to stay now, the painter said to himself, ‘I shall travel around the world, and find a place, where my skill is highly appreciated.” So, he began his journey to that very place.
For a year he had traveled, he came across many places, and earned a good living by painting for people. But, this was not what he wants. So, he kept on traveled and traveled to that very place he thought of.
One day, he passed by a village, and saw a few villagers filled with anger, were chasing a tabby cat down to a dead-end, and finally caught it. He asked, ‘What had happened?’ ‘That puss had stolen our fish many a times, but managed to escape from our catch, one of the villagers said, ‘these time, we will make it paid for the result it had cause us!” The painter asked, ‘What you all going to do with the cat?’ ‘Well,’ another villager said, ‘I guess we will probably hang it up on the trees for one or a couple of days, as a punishment.’ The crowd began to discuss how to punish the cat. And, every time they spoke of the ways to punish the cat, the painter was so shocked, at the way of punishing which was too cruel.
So, the painter talked to the villagers, ‘Please let it go! And I will paint a great picture of you all for free.’ The villagers discussed for a moment, and at last they agreed to release the cat. So, the painters kept his promise and paint the picture of them for free.
He then continues his journey, and came to a country. Soon, he found that this country suited him very well, and was definitely the place, where, he can be highly appreciated for his skills. He became a free-lance painter in that country, and was being paid very well. Moreover, for every once a year, the King would hire the greatest painter in the land, to paint a picture of him. ‘And,’ the painter said to himself, ‘this will be my greatest chance to have recognition by the King!’
Now that very day had come, the King had announced that, if anyone can paint a good portrait of him, will be granted a status of a royal painter. Many of the great painters in the land, soon came for the quest, but were in the end, turned off by the King, for their skills were unsatisfied. Then, the painter came for the trial, and his painting was impressed by the King. However, the King did not keep his promise, to grant him a status nor a fee.
The painter tried to protest, but angrily the King shouted, ‘Who do you think you are? Dare to say such kinds of words to me? Locked him up into the prison and hang him up to death by tomorrow morning!’
In the prison, the painter had lost all his hope, and cried sorrowfully at the corner, for the time now, was near to tomorrow morning. No one else will come for the rescued, unless some miracle happened. ‘Poor me!’ the painter said to himself, ‘to die at this young age, who will come and saved me?’ ‘My friend!’ he heard a soft voice talking to him, ‘I will save you, do not worried.’ ‘But,’ the painter asked, ‘how will you do that?’ And before he could knew it how, the door of the cell was opened, and the tabby cat (who life he had saved), came in, and said, ‘run now my friend, do not turn back your head till you come to a small village. And I shall meet you there.’
The painter ran out the castle, without looking back ahead, and he soon came to the small village as told by the cat. And there, the cat was waiting for him under a big tree. ‘My friend,’ said the cat, ‘I am glad to see you here!’ ‘As so am I!’ said the painter, with tears in his eyes. ‘Well,’ the cat said, ‘let you waste no times, but to leave quickly. For the King had sent out his men, and they will soon come by!’ The painter asked about how the cat can escaped, the cat said, ‘need not worry about me, I will meet you at the next destination!’
So, the painter ran and ran and ran, till he came to a city. And the cat was waiting for him at the front door of one of the shop. ‘My friend,’ said the cat, ‘I am glad to see you here again!’ ‘As so am I’ said the painter, with tears in his eyes. ‘Well,’ the cat said, ‘let you waste no times, but to leave quickly. For the soldiers will arrive soon!’ ‘But,’ the painter said, ‘My stomach was empty, I need something to fill before I can run.’ ‘Well then,’ said the cat, ‘wait me at the exits, and I will get you something to eat.’ So, the painter stood outside the exits, and the cat brought him a bun to eat.
After that, he continues to escape, and came to a kingdom. And there, the cat was waiting for him at the entrance. ‘My friend,’ said the cat, ‘I am glad that you are able to make your way here.’ ‘As so am I’ said the painter, ‘Am I free now?’ ‘Of course you are!’ said the cat, ‘and, as long as you stayed here, your wish shall be fulfilled.’
So, the painter settled himself here and started to paint for the people in day; and worked as a painting teacher at night. His paid was handsome, and he led a good living with it. More importantly, his wishes did come true: for the King, in every once a year for his beloved princess’s birthday, will invite the greatest painter in the kingdom, to have a paint of her. The rewards were of course the best one.
Many painters had come for the task; their paints were no doubt the best one .But the princess was unhappy, simply because, they were not her wants. Then, our painter came and tried for his luck, and his paint was most impressed by the King and the princess. So, the King rewards him a big house, a horse and a servant. But, these were
not what he wants. He wanted to tell, but was afraid to speak out due to his past experience. However, all out of a sudden, the princess told her father, ‘I wish he can be a royal painter, so that he can everyday draw for me!’
The painter was surprised, so, the princess explained to him, that she was actually the cat he had saved. And the King, who was always wanted to pay a debt of gratitude to the person who had saved her daughter’s life, now dreams come true.
Signed off by,
Tan
