This book contains the following story:
How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin
"How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" is a humorous and imaginative short story by Rudyard Kipling, part of his collection of children's stories known as "Just So Stories," first published in 1902. The story explains how the rhinoceros developed its thick, wrinkled skin. Here's a plot summary:
Setting: The story is set in Africa, where the animals can talk and interact with one another.
Plot:
The Rhinoceros' Smooth Skin: Once upon a time, the rhinoceros had smooth, tight-fitting skin that suited him well. He was proud of his smooth skin and thought it made him look sleek and smart.
The Parsee Man and His Cooking: In the same jungle, there lived a Parsee man who loved to cook. One day, the Parsee man ventured into the jungle with his cooking pots and pans to prepare a meal. He chose a spot near the banks of the Limpopo River.
The Rhinoceros Visits the Parsee Man: The rhinoceros, curious about the Parsee man's activities, approached him and asked what he was doing. The Parsee man explained that he was cooking, but he warned the rhinoceros not to disturb him while he was cooking, as it could lead to dire consequences.
The Rhinoceros' Curiosity: The rhinoceros couldn't resist his curiosity and kept bothering the Parsee man by asking questions and poking his nose into the cooking pots. This angered the Parsee man, who threatened to rub the rhinoceros with the black bottom of the cooking pan if he didn't stop.
The Consequences: Ignoring the Parsee man's warning, the rhinoceros continued to pester him. True to his word, the Parsee man took the cooking pan and rubbed the rhinoceros hard on the nose with the black bottom. The rubbing caused the rhinoceros's skin to become wrinkled, and it stuck to him like a crumpled, ill-fitting waistcoat.
The Rhinoceros' Embarrassment: The rhinoceros was embarrassed by his wrinkled skin, which was no longer smooth and sleek. He hid in the jungle, away from the other animals, to avoid their laughter and ridicule.
The Moral of the Story: The story ends with Kipling explaining to the reader that the rhinoceros still carries his wrinkled skin to this day as a consequence of his curiosity and disobedience.
This humorous and fanciful story teaches a moral lesson about the consequences of not listening to warnings and the importance of respecting others' boundaries. It's one of the many delightful "Just So Stories" by Rudyard Kipling, which are known for their whimsical explanations of how animals acquired their distinctive traits.
