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It was a strange case. The emperor was lost in thought for a while. At last he said, “I shall give my verdict tomorrow morning. In the meantime the horse will be kept in the royal stables.’’

The next Moring almost the entire population of Agra gathered in the yard outside the palace. Everyone was anxious to hear the emperor’s verdict. At last the emperor appeared on the balcony with his ministers and bodyguards. He gave his judgment, ‘`I order that all old people should be turned of their homes. Since they cannot work now, they have no right to be fed.’’

People were aghast! Turn out their parents from home? One man stepped forward and appealed to the emperor, “where will our old parents go, your majesty? Is it not children’s duty to look after their old parents?’’

Another man said, “your majesty, our parents worked hard when they were young and strong. They have earned their rest.’’

Almost all those who were present there protested against judgment.

Emperor Jahangir smiled and said, “that horse had also worked very hard for his master. But he has been turned out because now he is old and cannot serve his master as well as he did when he was young. Where will he go now? Did his master think about this?’’

Now people understood why the emperor had given such a strange order. The old horse’s master came forward and asked for forgiveness.

The emperor ordered, “ you are to take the horse back and look after him. No one, hereafter, will turn out any old animal from the house’’.

Old people were very happy. They blessed Emperor Jahangir.

But the happiest were the animals.

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