Modern Stories : The Secret of Work

Let us enjoy reading this one of Modern Stories of The Secret of Work .
Once upon a time there lived a king in southern India named Sri Rana Charya. He was very
curious
to know about his village.
One day he called out a group of courtiers and said, Go, and find how the people of my
village are and bring the person who knows about the secret of work. But one condition, any person
you meet, he should not know that I sent you."
The courtiers didnt understand the king and they walked away. The courtiers thought about what to
do the whole night, each of them got a plan and they said to each other. But all the members liked
the plan of Raghu (a clever person among the other courtiers) and they all agreed to it.
The very next day they all dressed as Tribals and they arranged a bullock cart with them and they
went around.
First they saw a woodcutter who was cutting down trees they went to him and said Do you like this
job sir?"
The woodcutter replied No, I do it because this work comes from our ancestors so I was forced by
my parents to do this job".
The courtiers said goodbye to the woodcutter and walked away.
While traveling further, the courtiers saw an angry washer man and they decided to talk to him.
One of them asked Hello sir! We come from East India and we are new to this place, weve come
to visit our friend Ram who lives here somewhere nearby could you please tell his address".
The washer man said Are you mad? Cant you see what I am doing? I am doing an idiotic job."
The courtiers asked him Sir, Do you like this job?"
The washer man continued angrily No, when I was small I did not show much interest in studies
and I never listened to my parents so, I became a washer man, as I should look after my family and
earn a living. To feed them I do this job".
The courtiers apologized for disturbing and went away.
Then they made up their minds to leave the job and send a message to the king that no one in the
village knows about the secret of work.
But suddenly, they saw a small hut with 5 candles and 3 lamps and a man studying a science book
and one of them said that it is a school. They went inside and asked the lecturer the same question.
The lecturer replied I love this job and it gives me satisfaction and happiness teaching so many
uneducated children".
Hearing this the courtiers took the lecturer to the king and the king appreciated him for knowing the
secret of work and soon he became the best teacher in the village and was given an award and soon
a big school was built.
Moral: Any work you do it does not matter, but you have to have some interest in that. If you want
to achieve greater heights, believe in yourself. And then you can know that
Work is worship."
The United States Government
The United States government is composed of three major sections. It is based on the
Constitution of the United States of America that was put into effect in May, 1789. The three parts
of the U.S. Government are the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Each branch works
independently of the other two, and each has its own responsibilities. This system is in place to
ensure that no branch can carry more power than the other. This is called the separation of powers,
which was written into the constitution.
The executive branch is the branch that most Americans are familiar with. It includes the
president of the United States, the vice-president, and the cabinet. The president is the leader of the
country and is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military. The vice-president is second-in-
command and will act as president if the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office. The
cabinet acts as agents of the U.S. President, and carry out the duties they are entrusted with.
The legislative branch of government consists of the House of Representatives, and the Senate.
Together they form the congress, which can levy and collect taxes, mint money, and establish
federal courts. It can also declare war, and raise and support the army, navy, and air force to protect
the country. The House of Representatives has 435 members, and the Senate consists of 100
senators, with two from each of the states. Any legislation, or new law, must be approved by both
the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The judicial branch is entrusted to apply the laws created by the legislative branch of
government. It has the power to create lower courts under the Supreme Court of the United States.
It works closely with state courts, although they are separate.
Christmas
Christmas, observed on December 25, is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus
Christ. Christians of different denominations go to church on Christmas. Many Catholics go to
midnight mass. In the United States, however, the holiday has a much more secular tone and is
celebrated throughout the country. Many people, regardless of their religion, put up and decorate a
Christmas tree. The tree can be a real evergreen or it can be an artificial tree. Lights, strings, tinsel,
and even popcorn can be used to decorate a Christmas tree. On the top of the tree is a star or an
angel. The decorations are usually red and green.
The purpose of a Christmas tree is to have a central location to place gifts. According to
legend, a jolly fat man with a beard, named Santa Claus, leaves presents under the tree. Children in
the U.S. often write lists of things they want Santa to bring them. Many parents bring their children
to shopping malls across the country to tell a man dressed as Santa what they want. These children
are often also photographed with the mall Santa as a keepsake. On Christmas Eve many children
leave milk and cookies for Santa. Of course it is the parents that buy the gifts from the wish lists
and even eat the cookies and drink the milk.
On Christmas Day children usually wake up early and run to the tree so they can see what
Santa brought them. Adults can also exchange gifts at this time.
People don't just decorate a tree at Christmas. Many also elaborately decorate their homes with
lights. Some of the displays are even synchronized to Christmas songs called carols. Originally
these songs were religious, but now they are about the spirit of the season.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated by many people in the United States and Canada. In the
United States it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November and marks the start of the
Christmas season. Some people celebrate Thanksgiving to remember the first harvest of the
pilgrims and Puritans, groups of people from England who immigrated to North America in the
1600s. Some people recreate the first Thanksgiving and dress up as pilgrims, puritans, and the
Native Americans who are said to have helped the new arrivals find food to survive their first
winter.
Most people, however, see Thanksgiving as one day a year to reflect upon what they are
thankful for. Some families will sit together and take turns saying aloud what they are thankful for.
An important part of Thanksgiving is families coming together. Extended family members often
travel long distances to share the day with their loved ones. In the United States Thanksgiving is the
busiest travel day of the year. People travel in planes, trains, buses, and cars to share a very special
meal - Thanksgiving dinner.
What most Thanksgiving celebrations have in common is the food. On Thanksgiving many
families prepare large, elaborate dinners to share with friends and loved ones. Many of these dinners
use ingredients associated with the fall harvest, like cranberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and
cranberries. Roast turkey is the traditional meat served. It is so common that some people call
Thanksgiving Day "Turkey Day". The turkey is usually served with gravy and stuffing. Pies are
usually served for dessert. The most common pies served are sweet potato, apple, pecan, and
pumpkin.
Thanksgiving is not just celebrated in the privacy of people's homes. Every year the President
of the United States pardons a turkey, saving it from becoming someone's meal. In New York City,
Macy's, a department store, holds a large parade with huge balloons of various cartoon characters
floating down the street.
January
 The first day of January is New Year's Day. This federal holiday celebrates the beginning of
each New Year. People in the U.S. sometimes spend this day watching college football games and
parades. On the third Monday in January, we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a
federal holiday. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked to change laws so that all people in the U.S. would
be treated fairly. He worked for change in the 1950s and 60s when many states had laws separating
black and white people. Martin Luther King taught people to use peaceful demonstrations to change
laws, instead of violence. Many laws were changed because of his work. Many people worked with
him in the hope that the U.S. could be a fair country for all people.
In January or February many people in the U.S. celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Chinese
New Year falls between January 10th and February 19th. The date changes because it is from a
calendar based on the moon, not the sun. On this day, many families clean their homes of all the
"old" and get ready for the New Year. They wear new clothes and share delicious food. They give
each other red envelopes with money for good luck in the coming year. They also light firecrackers
to chase away bad luck.
February
February 14th is Saint Valentine's Day. Saint Valentine's Day began in Europe and has been
celebrated for hundreds of years. In the U.S. today, we remember friends and sweethearts with cards
called valentines, flowers, chocolates or small gifts. We celebrate Presidents' Day on the 3rd
Monday of February as a federal holiday commemorating the birthdays of George Washington and
Abraham Lincoln.. We call George Washington "the father of our country" because he was the
American general in the Revolutionary War who led us to victory against England. He was elected
our first president. Abraham Lincoln was our 16th president. He kept our country together during
the Civil War when the Southern states wanted to form a separate country. Lincoln freed the slaves
with the Emancipation Proclamation.
March
March 17th is St. Patrick's Day. This holiday comes from Ireland. People wear 3-leaf
shamrocks because St. Patrick used them to explain the Christian Trinity. Many people celebrate
this holiday by wearing shamrocks or green clothing in honor of St. Patrick. Some people even
drink green beer!
April
Holidays in the spring are celebrations of the rebirth of life. Passover is a Jewish holiday
celebrated between March 13th and April 11th. Easter is a Christian holiday that is celebrated on a
Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In
the U.S., people attend religious services and family gatherings like picnics. They hide colored eggs
for children to find. Many children wake up to baskets filled with candy that the "Easter Bunny" has
left for them.
May
Mother's Day is observed in the United States in honor of mothers on the second Sunday in
May. Julia Ward Howe wrote a Mother's Day proclamation in 1870. She wanted to have an
international day when all mothers of the world would stand up and speak for peace, so their sons
would not have to die in war. In 1907, Anna Jarvis proposed a day to remember all mothers. Today,
Mother's Day is a holiday to remember mothers with cards, flowers and presents.
Many people in the U.S. celebrate "el cinco de mayo". This means the 5th of May in Spanish.
This holiday celebrates a battle won by Mexicans against the French. In some areas of the U.S.,
there are parades on this day. Many people eat Mexican food and listen to Mexican Music.
The last Monday in May is Memorial Day. Since 1868, this federal holiday has honored the
Union Civil War soldiers who died. Now, we remember all soldiers who died for this country.
People decorate soldiers' graves. Many people also decorate the graves of their families.
June
Flag Day on June 14th is the anniversary of the adoption of the American flag in 1777. It is not
a federal holiday, although many people display flags outside their homes and in their communities.
The third Sunday in June is Father's Day in the United States. Father's Day was first observed in
1910 in Spokane, Washington. This is a day when people remember their fathers with presents and
cards. People celebrate with family gatherings, picnics and sports activities.
July
The Fourth of July is a very important holiday in the U.S. We celebrate the signing of the
Declaration of Independence by representatives of the thirteen American Colonies. On July 4, 1776,
John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, well-known patriots, declared the
independence of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. This holiday is considered the
`birthday of the United States of America.' It is the greatest non-religious holiday on the U.S. We
celebrate this day with fireworks and parades.
August
During the month of August there are no major holidays to celebrate. Many families go on
vacation or have picnics or go to the beach. August 26th is a day that is recognized and celebrated
as Equality Day by individuals or groups because of the adoption of the 19th amendment to the
Constitution in 1920. This amendment granted women the right to vote.
September
September has one federal holiday, Labor Day. It honors all working people in the U.S. and
Canada. It began with a New York City parade in 1882 and is now celebrated on the first Monday in
September. National Grandparents Day, which honors grandparents and the love they show to their
children's children, is celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day.
October
The 2nd Monday of October is Columbus Day, celebrating the historic trip of Christopher
Columbus to the Americas in 1492. Because Columbus was Italian, this federal holiday is especially
important to Italian-Americans but may not be celebrated in all states. October 31st is Halloween.
During the 19th century, immigrants to the United States brought Halloween customs. These
customs have changed over the years. Children in costumes go from house to house saying "trick or
treat." The treat usually given is candy and tricks are rarely done. A common symbol of Halloween
is the jack-o-lantern, which is carved out of a pumpkin.
November
November 11th is Veterans Day. This federal holiday honors the soldiers who fought in World
War I and those who fought for the U.S. in all wars. We celebrate by displaying the American flag
from our homes, having parades and decorating graves with flowers and flags. Thanksgiving Day is
the 4th Thursday in November and a federal holiday. On this day we remember how the Indians
helped the Pilgrims by teaching them how to farm and hunt. On this day, we give thanks for food,
our country, and our families.
December
In December we celebrate holidays of light and hope in the dark winter. There is an eight-day
Jewish holiday known as Chanukah during which candles are lit on each day. December 12th is the
holiday of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who appeared to a poor Indian in Mexico among winter
flowers.
December 25th is Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Many people decorate
their houses with Christmas trees and lights and give presents to family members. Children hang
stockings for Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) to fill with gifts. Christmas is a federal holiday. The
African-American holiday of Kwanzaa is the last week of December. Candles are lit to represent the
virtues of the African-American people.
As you can see, we have much to celebrate in the U.S. Many holidays are uniquely our own
and many have been borrowed from other countries. We are a country of many cultures and many
holidays!

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