Life Span > On the first day, God created the dog and > said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and > bark at anyone whocomes in or walks past. > For this, I will give you a life span of > twenty years." > > The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How > about only ten years and I'll give you back the > other > ten?" > > So God agreed. > > On the second day, God created the monkey and said: > "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. > For this, I'll give you a twenty-year lifespan." > > The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? > That's > a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you > back > ten like the Dog did?" > > And God agreed. > > On the third day, God created the cow and said: > "You > must go into > the field with the farmer all day long and suffer > under the sun, have > calves and give milk to support the farmer's > family. > For this, I > will give you a life span of sixty years." > > The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want > me > to live for > sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the > > other forty?" > > And God agreed again. > > On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, > sleep, play, > marry And enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you > twenty years." > > But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you > possibly > give me my > twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the > monkey gave back, > and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, > okay?" > > "Okay," said God, "You asked for it." > > So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, > sleep, play and > enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave > in > the sun to > support our family. For the next ten years we do > monkey tricks to > entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten > yearswe sit on > the front porch and bark at everyone. > > Life has now been explained to you.
