| The Echo |
| Jack and his family were spending a vacation in his Grandfather's mountain cabin. |
| They were having a wonderful time taking nature walks, hiking and wading in the clear, |
| shallow streams. Helen, Jack's sister was fascinated with the number of birds she could see. |
| She would try to imitate their sounds. |
| One day Jack, Helen and their father went for a hike, early in the morning. After climbing for |
| some time, they got tired and sat on a rock to rest. The view in front of them was beautiful. |
| Tall trees, colorful flowers and the smell of the woods was making them feel happy. |
| Tall mountain cliffs surrounded the place. |
| Suddenly Father said "Jack, do you know, if you could talk to the mountain, he will talk |
| back to you? Jack looked at his father with wide eyes and said "No Way!". Father smiled. |
| "Try it". he said. Jack looked at the mountain and said " Hi there! How are you?" |
| The mountain said "Hi there! How are you?". |
| Jack said "I am fine. I am taking a walk." |
| The mountain said " I am fine. I am taking a walk." |
| Jack frowned." Are you teasing me?". |
| The mountain said "Are you teasing me?" |
| "Stop it!" Jack shouted. The mountain shouted "Stop it!" |
| "You are mean" Jack cried. The mountain said "You are mean!" |
| Jack was angry and hurt. He looked at his father. Father smiled and told him |
| to be nice to the mountain. Jack thought for a minute and said loudly. |
| "I am sorry! Let's be friends" The mountain said "I am sorry. Let's be friends. |
| Father was now laughing and he explained, that the mountain was not actually talking back. |
| What Jack was hearing was the "Echo" of his own voice. When our sound hits a wall or building |
| it gets bounced back, producing an echo. But, said Father there is an important lesson |
| to be learned here. You will always see your words and actions getting echoed back |
| at you. If you are good to others they will be good to you and if... |
| "Yes Father" said Helen. "We understand. From now on if we are nice to |
| everyone, they will be nice to us. Right?." "Yes" Father said "Right!" |
| Then they all happily went on with their hike in the mountains. |
