Adam's Friend
Before you read the story
- Most wild animals are frightened of human beings. How do they show their fear?
- Are you afraid of wild animals? Which ones do you fear most?
Now read the story
Our father, Adam, lived in the Garden of Eden. One day, God sent him out and closed the gate behind him. Then all the animals saw Adam for the first time.
"Who is this new animal?" they asked each other. "Look, he has only two legs. He has hands, like a monkey, but he is not a monkey. He has no fur, like the fish, but he is not a fish. Is he a friend or an enemy? Does he want to live peacefully with us? Or does he want to fight us?"
They talked for a long time, and at last they called the dog.
"Dog," they said, "you can run fast, and you are brave and strong. Go to the man and talk to him."
So the dog ran to Adam.
"What kind of animal are you?" he asked Adam. "My brothers and sisters, the other animals, are afraid of you. Are you a friend or an enemy? Do you want to live peacefully with us, or fight us?"
Adam smiled at the dog.
"I have been in the Garden of Eden," he said. "I am a stranger here. I want to be your friend, not your enemy. I want to live peacefully with you."
"That's good news," said the dog, and he turned and began to run back to his friends. He ran as fast as the wind.
The other animals saw him.
"Oh, look!" they said. "The dog is running! The man is chasing him. The dog is running away from an enemy!"
And they all ran away.
The dog ran after them.
"Wuf!" he shouted. "Stop!"
But the animals were too frightened to stop. They hid themselves in the forest. Sadly, the dog ran back to Adam.
"They didn't listen to me," he said. "They are afraid of you."
"If they don't want to be my friends," said Adam, "I will hunt them. Stay with me, Dog, and help me."
So from that day, the dog stayed with the man, and they hunted the animals together.
Listen to the story: