Once a rich merchant left his city to go to another country for trade. He was going by a ship and carried trunks full of gold coins and precious gems with him.

On the way, a storm began. The ship rocked from side to side. After few hours, the storm stopped but the ship had a hole in its bottom.

Now, water started entering into the ship. Some got off the drowning ship. Some jumped into the sea to swim ashore.

The merchant started praying, "Oh! God please save my life." A man went to the merchant and said, "Jump into the water and swim ashore. God helps those who help themselves." But the merchant did not listen. He stayed on the ship. Soon the ship drowned and the merchant died.

Moral : God Helps Those Who Help Themselves