The Man and the Serpent

In a small farming village surrounded by rolling hills and fertile fields, there lived a compassionate farmer named Thomas who was known throughout the community for his kind heart and willingness to help any creature in distress. Thomas believed deeply that all living beings deserved compassion and care, regardless of their appearance or reputation.

Thomas lived simply but contentedly with his wife Martha and their young son David in a modest farmhouse that sat at the edge of the village. Their home was always open to travelers in need, and their table was shared freely with anyone who was hungry or seeking shelter.

One particularly harsh winter morning, when the ground was covered with a thick blanket of snow and the air was so cold that breath formed clouds of vapor, Thomas set out early to check on his livestock and ensure they had adequate shelter and food for the day.

As he walked along the path that led to his barn, Thomas noticed something dark lying motionless in the snow beside a large boulder. Curious and concerned, he approached to investigate and discovered a large serpent that appeared to be nearly frozen to death from the bitter cold.

The serpent was a magnificent creature with beautiful scales that would normally have gleamed in the sunlight, but now it lay still and lifeless-looking, its body rigid from the freezing temperatures. Most people in the village would have simply walked past, or even taken steps to ensure the serpent was truly dead, as snakes were generally feared and unwelcome.

But Thomas was not like most people. His compassionate nature compelled him to see beyond the serpent’s fearsome reputation and focus instead on the suffering of a fellow living creature that needed help.

“You poor thing,” Thomas said softly, kneeling down beside the motionless serpent. “No creature should have to suffer like this, regardless of what others might think of you.”

Thomas carefully picked up the serpent, noting how cold and stiff its body had become. The snake showed no signs of life, but Thomas believed he could detect the faintest hint of warmth deep within its body, suggesting that it might still be saved if he acted quickly.

Without hesitation, Thomas wrapped the serpent in his own warm coat and hurried back to his farmhouse. He burst through the door, calling to his wife Martha to help him with an emergency.

“Martha! I’ve found a creature that’s nearly frozen to death! We need to warm it up quickly if we’re going to save its life!”

Martha came running to see what her husband had brought home, and her eyes widened with alarm when she saw the large serpent wrapped in Thomas’s coat.

“Thomas, that’s a dangerous snake!” she exclaimed. “You can’t bring that into our home! What if it bites you, or David? These creatures are not meant to be trusted!”

But Thomas was determined to help the suffering animal. “Martha, this creature is dying from the cold. It can’t harm anyone in its current condition, and by the time it recovers, I’m sure it will be grateful for our kindness. Every living being deserves compassion.”

Despite his wife’s protests and warnings, Thomas brought the serpent close to the warm fireplace and began gently warming its rigid body. He prepared a soft blanket and placed the serpent carefully upon it, then sat beside the fireplace to monitor its condition.

Gradually, as the warmth from the fire began to penetrate the serpent’s frozen body, signs of life started to return. The rigid muscles began to relax, the scales started to regain some of their natural luster, and eventually, the serpent’s eyes opened slowly.

Thomas was delighted to see that his rescue efforts had been successful. “Welcome back to the world of the living, my friend,” he said gently to the awakening serpent. “You gave us quite a scare there. I’m so glad we were able to help you recover.”

The serpent slowly lifted its head and looked around the warm, comfortable room. It saw the crackling fire, the soft blanket it was lying on, and the kind face of the man who had saved its life. For a moment, Thomas hoped that the creature would show some sign of gratitude or recognition of his kindness.

As the serpent continued to warm up and regain its strength, Thomas began to feel optimistic about the outcome of his rescue effort. He imagined that this act of kindness might forge an unusual but meaningful friendship between himself and this magnificent creature.

“You see, Martha?” Thomas said to his still-worried wife. “Look how calm and peaceful it is. I believe this serpent understands that we helped it, and it’s grateful for our kindness.”

However, Martha remained skeptical about the wisdom of bringing a dangerous predator into their home. “Thomas, please be careful. I know you mean well, but a serpent’s nature doesn’t change just because you showed it kindness.”

As the serpent regained more of its strength and vitality, it began to move more freely on the blanket. Thomas watched with fascination as the beautiful creature stretched and coiled, apparently testing its recovered muscles and senses.

But then, without any warning or provocation, the serpent suddenly struck at Thomas with lightning speed. Its fangs sank deep into the farmer’s hand, injecting a powerful venom that immediately began to course through his bloodstream.

Thomas cried out in pain and shock, pulling his hand back and staring at the serpent in disbelief. “Why?” he gasped, as the venom began to affect his system. “I saved your life! I brought you into my warm home and cared for you when you were dying! How could you repay my kindness with an attack?”

The serpent, now fully restored to its natural vitality and aggression, coiled itself into a defensive position and fixed Thomas with its cold, emotionless eyes.

“You foolish man,” the serpent hissed without any trace of gratitude or remorse. “Did you really think that your kindness could change what I am? I am a serpent. It is my nature to strike at anything that comes within reach, regardless of whether it has helped me or harmed me. I cannot be other than what I was born to be.”

Martha rushed to her husband’s side as Thomas began to weaken from the serpent’s venom. “Thomas, we must get you to the doctor immediately!” she cried, helping him toward the door.

As Thomas struggled with the effects of the poisonous bite, he looked back at the serpent that he had rescued with such compassion and hope.

“I thought,” Thomas whispered weakly, “that kindness could awaken gratitude in any creature. I believed that showing mercy and compassion would be repaid with friendship and loyalty.”

The serpent watched coldly as Thomas and Martha hurried from the house seeking medical help. It felt no remorse for its action, no gratitude for the rescue, and no concern for the consequences of its strike. Within moments, it had slithered out through an open window and disappeared into the forest, returning to its natural life as if nothing had happened.

Thomas survived the serpent’s bite thanks to prompt medical attention, but he was forever changed by the experience. He learned that while kindness and compassion are always virtuous qualities, they must be tempered with wisdom and understanding of the true nature of those we seek to help.

The villagers, when they heard the story, nodded sadly at the familiar lesson. “Some creatures,” explained the village elder, “are bound by their nature in ways that no amount of kindness can change. Compassion is a beautiful virtue, but it must be balanced with wisdom about when and how it can be safely expressed.”

Thomas never lost his compassionate nature, but he became more careful about how he expressed it. He learned to help others in ways that didn’t ignore the reality of their fundamental character, and he taught his son David to be both kind and wise in his dealings with the world.

Moral: Kindness cannot change the fundamental nature of those who are naturally harmful or ungrateful. While compassion is a virtue, it must be balanced with wisdom about the true character of those we seek to help. Some natures cannot be altered by good treatment.