Janet's Journal

In the north we only see the Man in the Moon.  Much further south here in Sri Lanka I look at the Rabbit in the Moon.  Curious as to the story I searched and found several variations on the same theme.  So, are you sitting comfortably, then I will begin.

A long time ago the Man in the Moon was sitting idly watching the creatures playing on planet Earth.  He noticed a fox sitting with a rabbit and nearby a monkey playing.  The Man in the moon smiled and thought “the monkey must be the silliest, the fox is the slyest and the rabbit is swift, but I wonder which is the kindest”.

So, the Man in the Moon came down to Earth and disguising himself as a poor beggar, spoke to the three animals sitting round the fire. “Have you got anything I could eat?” he asked.

The monkey immediately jumped up and ran into the forest and collected some fruits and nuts which he laid before the beggar, who thanked him.  The fox ran off and came back with a large fish which he gave the beggar to cook.

The rabbit, who only knew how to gather grass, sat there, and a large tear rolled down his furry cheek.  “What can I give you that can compare with the fresh fruit and nuts from the monkey or the delicious fried fish from the fox” he cried.  “I know, you would love some freshly cooked rabbit” and he threw himself onto to fire.

The monkey, the fox and the old man all horrified, cried out “STOP!”  The beggar grabbed the rabbit and pulled him out of the fire saying, “you were all very kind but now I know which is the kindest animal on earth, the rabbit was the only one prepared to give his life so that a stranger could eat”.

The animals stared at the beggar who was now transformed back into the Man in the Moon.

He took the rabbit back to live with him on the moon, where you can see him still with wisps of smoke round him from the fire.