The Blind Men and the Elephant
Grade 4, Henry Houch Elementary School, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Long ago in India, six blind men lived
together. Because they lived in India, they often heard about elephants.
But because
they were blind, they had never seen an elephant.
The blind men lived near the palace of a Rajah. The Rajah
was the ruler of all the people. At the palace of the Rajah, there
were many elephants.
"Let us go to the palace of the Rajah," said one blind
man. "Yes, let us go," said the others.
It was a hot day, but the six blind men walked to the
palace. They walked one behind the other. the smallest blind man was
the leader. The second blind man put his hand on the shoulder of the
leader. Each blind man put his hand on the shoulder of the man in front.
A friend of the six blind men met them at the palace.
An elephant was standing in the courtyard. The six blind men touched
the elephant with their hands.
The first blind man pout out his hand and touched the
side of the elephant. "how smooth! An elephant is like a wall."
The second blind man put out his hand and touched
the trunk of the elephant. "how round! An elephant is like a snake."
The third blind man put out his hand and touched
the tusk of the elephant. "How sharp! An elephant is like a spear."
The fourth blind man put out his hand and touched the
leg of the elephant. "How Tall! An elephant is like a tree."
The fifth blind man reached out his hand and touched
the ear of the elephant. "How wide! An elephant is like a fan."
The sixth blind many put out his hand and touched the
tail of the elephant. "How thin! An elephant is like a rope."
The friend of the six blind men let them into a garden.
The six blind men were tired. It was a hot day.
"Wait here. I shall bring you water to drink." They sat
down in the shade of a big tree. "You must not go out in the sun
until you rest, " he said. The six blind men talked about the elephant.
"An elephant is like a wall," said the first blind man.
"A wall?" sid the second blind man. "You're wrong. an elephant is like
a snake."
"A snake?" said the third blind man. "You're wrong. An
elephant is like a spear."
"A spear?" said the fourth blind man. "You're wrong.
An elephant is like a tree"
"A tree?" said the fifth blind man. "You're wrong.
An elephant is like a fan."
"A fan?" said the sixth blind man. "You're wrong. An
elephant is like a rope."
The six blind men could not agree. Each man shouted.
"A wall!" "A snake!" "A spear!" "A tree!" "A fan!" "A rope!"
The friend of the six blind men came back with water
to drink. At the same time the Rajah, who was catching some zzzzz's,
was awakened by the shouting. He looked out and saw the six blind men
below him in the courtyard. "STOP!" called out the Rajah.
The six blind men stopped shouting. They knew that the
Rajah was a very wise man. They listened to him. The Rajah spoke in
a kind voice. "The elephant is a big animal. Each of you touched only
one part. You must put all the parts together to find out what an elephant
is like."
The six blind men listened. They drank the cool water
as they rested in the shade. They talked quietly. "The Rajah is right.
Each on of us knows only a part. To find out the whole truth, we must
put all the parts together."
The six blind men walked out of the courtyard just as
they had before, and they went home.