--- title: The Story of Good Faith. — Folk tales from Tibet · full text with trees description: The Story of Good Faith., «Folk tales from Tibet» by William Frederick Travers, Sir O'Connor: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The Tiger soon got tired of sitting in the house and tried to force his way out; but the house was too strongly built fo --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75000/4/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Folk tales from Tibet](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75000/) / The Story of Good Faith. # The Story of Good Faith. The Story of Good Faith. of «Folk tales from Tibet» by William Frederick Travers, Sir O'Connor: the whole text, 102 sentences and 2118 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. The Tiger soon got tired of sitting in the house and tried to force his way out; but the house was too strongly built for him to be able to make any impression upon the walls, so he gave it up in despair and soon began to suffer severely from hunger and thirst.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Two or three days passed away and the Tiger was in a sorry state, when, as he was peering through a chink in the logs he saw a little Musk Deer, which had come down to drink at the stream which was close by.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Tiger saw the Deer he called out to her:[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, Sister Deer, will you please come and open the door of this house.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") I am shut up inside, and as I have nothing to eat and drink I am afraid of starving to death.”[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") The Deer was a good deal frightened when she heard the Tiger’s voice, but when she understood how matters were she was reassured, and replied:[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, Uncle Tiger, I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") But I am afraid if I open the door and let you out you will kill and eat me.”[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") “No, no, I won’t,” replied the Tiger, “you can rely upon me.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") I promise you faithfully that if you will release me I will let you go free.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly, the Deer came up to the house and unbolted the door from the outside, and the Tiger sprang out joyfully.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") As soon as he got outside he seized upon the Deer and said:[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am very sorry for you, Sister Deer, but the fact is I am so famished that really I have no alternative but to eat you immediately.”[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is really too bad,” replied the Deer; “after promising faithfully that you would not eat me, and after the benefit which I have conferred upon you, you should certainly keep faith with me.”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") “Faith!” said the Tiger.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is faith?[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") I don’t believe there is any such thing as good faith.”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") “Is there not?” answered the Deer.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well now, let us make a bargain.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") We will ask the first three living things we meet whether or no there is such a thing as good faith.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") If they say there is not, then you are welcome to kill and eat me; but if they say there is such a thing, then you shall let me go free.”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very good,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that; that is a bargain.”[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") So the two set off together side by side, and after proceeding a short distance down the road they came upon a large Tree growing by the roadside.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “Good-morning, Brother Tree,” said the Musk Deer, “we want to refer a question to you for your decision.”[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The Tree waved its branches in the air and replied in a gentle voice:[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is your question, Sister Deer?[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") I am ready to do my best to help you.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “The case is this,” replied the Musk Deer, “a short while ago I found this Tiger shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut in the forest, unable to get out.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") He called out to me asking me to open the door of the hut, promising me, if I did so, that he would let me go free.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") So I opened the door and let him out.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") No sooner was he released than he seized upon me and threatened to kill and eat me; and when I reproached him of breaking his faith, he said he did not believe that there was such a thing as good faith in the world.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living things we met whether or no there is such a thing as good faith in this world.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") If they say there is not, then the Tiger is to kill and eat me; but if they say that there is such a thing, then I am to go free.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Will you please give us an opinion as to whether such a thing as good faith exists or not.”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") On hearing this story the great Tree moved its branches slowly in the breeze and replied as follows:[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am much interested in your story, Sister Deer, and would gladly help you if I could; but I am bound to answer you honestly in accordance with my own experience of life.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Now consider my own case.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") I grow here by the roadside and spread my branches over the dusty highway ready to give shelter to man and beast in their shade.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Travellers passing constantly up and down the road avail themselves of this cool retreat, and they come themselves and they bring their poor beasts of burden to rest in my shadow.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") And then what happens?[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Are they grateful to me for the comfort which I afford them?[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Does my example inspire them with any consideration for others?[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Far from it.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") When they have rested and refreshed themselves enough, they proceed on their way, and not only do they not thank me for my hospitality, but they break off my tender branches and use them as whips, further to goad and distress their weary animals.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Can such conduct as that be called good faith?[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") No, I am bound to say that my experience of life leads me to believe that there is no such thing as good faith in this world.”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor Musk Deer was much cast down on hearing these words, and she and the Tiger moved on together till, a little farther along the road, they caught sight of a Cow Buffalo and her Calf grazing quietly in a field of succulent grass.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") They noticed that the old Cow contented herself with the driest and smallest patches of grass, whilst showing her Calf where to find the richest and most luxuriant pasture, and that she willingly deprived herself of any comfort in order to afford pleasure to the youngster.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") The Tiger and the Deer approached the old Cow, and the Deer, addressing her, said:[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") “Good-morning, Aunt Buffalo\![50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") This Tiger and I have a small matter which we wish to refer to you for an opinion.”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The Buffalo gazed at them with her big eyes, and after ruminating for a while she replied slowly:[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") “Say on, Sister Deer, I am ready to give you my opinion for what it is worth.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said the Deer, “this Tiger was shut up in a hut in the forest, and being unable to open the door, he was in danger of starving to death.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") I happened to pass by, and he called to me, asking me to let him out, promising that if I did so he would spare my life.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") So I opened the door and released him.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") But no sooner was he free than he seized upon me and said that he would kill and eat me; and when I reproached him with his bad faith, he replied that he did not believe that such a thing as good faith existed.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living things we met whether or no they believed that there is such a thing as good faith.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") If they say there is not, then the Tiger is to eat me; but if they say that there is such a thing, I am to go free.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, will you please give us your opinion on the matter.”[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") On hearing this statement the old Buffalo continued to chew the cud for some minutes, and then replied gravely:[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") “I would gladly help you in the matter, Sister Deer, if I could; but I must regard it from the point of view of my own experience in life.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") I am considering the case of myself and my Calf.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") While the Calf is young and tender, I do all in my power to nourish and care for it.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") I first give it my milk, and later on, as you see, I encourage it to browse upon the best of the herbage, whilst I gladly stint myself in order that it may have plenty of the best of everything.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") But what happens later on, when the Calf grows strong and lusty?[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Does it remember its old mother with gratitude, and fend for her in her old age?[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Far from it.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") As soon as it is big enough it will push me away from the places where I am grazing and take the best for itself, and will drive me away altogether from the pastures if it can.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Can that be called keeping faith with its mother?[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") No; my experience makes me believe that there is no such thing as good faith in this world.”[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Musk Deer heard this she was much downhearted, and fully expected to be killed and eaten without further delay; but she begged the Tiger to give her one more chance, saying that she was fully prepared to abide by the opinion of the third person whom they met.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") The Tiger consented to this, and after going on a little farther together they met a Hare, hopping quietly down the road towards them.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") “Good-morning, Brother Hare,” called out the Musk Deer; “could you spare us a few moments to give us an opinion upon a point of difference which has arisen between this Tiger and myself?”[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") “Certainly,” replied the Hare, stopping short in the roadway.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") “I shall be delighted to do the best I can for you.”[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” replied the Musk Deer, “the facts are as follows: I was drinking just now at a stream in the forest when I noticed this Tiger shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") The door was bolted outside, and he was unable to come out, and was in danger of starving to death, so he called out to me, asking me to release him, promising me, if I did so, that he would spare my life.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") I accordingly opened the door; but no sooner did the Tiger come out, than he seized upon me, saying that he was so hungry that he had really no alternative but to devour me on the spot.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") And when I reproached him for his bad faith, he replied that he did not know what good faith was, and, in fact, did not believe that such a thing existed.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living creatures we met whether or no there is such a thing as good faith in this world.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") If they say there is, then I am to go free; but if they say there is not, then the Tiger is at liberty to kill and eat me.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") We have already consulted two persons in the matter, and they are both of opinion that there is no such thing as good faith.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") You are the third and last, and on your decision depends my life.”[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") “Dear me,” replied the Hare, “this is a very strange story, and before giving an opinion on so momentous a matter it is necessary that I should understand exactly how it all happened.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Let me see.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") You say that you were shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") “No, no,” broke in the Tiger; “it was I who was shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh\![89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") I see,” said the Hare; “then the Musk Deer must have shut you in?”[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh! no,” interrupted the Musk Deer.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") “You don’t seem to understand at all; that was not how it happened.”[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said the Hare, “it is such a complicated story that it is difficult to follow it exactly.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") So before giving a decision I propose that we all adjourn to the scene of action, and there you can explain to me precisely what occurred.”[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") The Tiger and the Musk Deer agreed to this, and the three set off together until they arrived at the Woodcutter’s hut in the forest.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now,” said the Hare, “will you please explain to me exactly what happened.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") Where, for instance, were you, Sister Deer, at the time the Tiger spoke to you?”[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") “I was down here drinking at the stream, so,” replied the Deer, going off to the place in question.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") “And where were you, Uncle Tiger?” said the Hare.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well, I was inside the hut, thus,” replied the Tiger, going inside the house.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") “And the door, I presume, must have been shut, so?” said the Hare.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") And so saying he shut the door and bolted it; and he and the Deer went on their way safely, leaving the Tiger shut up inside, where he shortly after starved to death.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Story of the Tiger and the Man.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75000/3/) - next →: [The Story of the Two Neighbours.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75000/5/) - ↑ back to [Folk tales from Tibet](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75000/)