Once there was an old spinster. She was very rich but strange was her behaviour. She had many whims. Once she ordered an artist to paint her picture. The artist worked hard and the picture was ready at last. The old woman was invited by the artist to the studio to see the portrait.
The old woman reached the studio all excited. With her was her pet dog. The woman showed the portrait to her dog and asked, “Tommy darling! Look, how does the picture of your mistress look?”
The dog showed no interest.
The whimful old woman turned to the artist, “This picture is no good. Even my darling dog does not think it looks like me at all.”
The artist was a worldly wise man and practically clever one. He knew the whims of the rich.
He politely spoke, “Ma’am! I now know what is wrong with this picture. Your clever dog pointed it out smartly. I will retouch it to make it your mirror reflection. Even your Tommy would wag its tail in approval and lick your feet in picture.”
The next day, the woman and her dog visited the studio again to see the re-done picture. This time the dog ran to the portrait and began to lick the feet of the picture of his mistress.
The old woman squealed in delight, “How wonderful! It is just like me one hundred per cent. My Tommy liked it the moment it saw it. Please pack it for me. Excellent!”
The artist charged double price and the woman paid happily.
After the woman had departed, the artist laughed merrily. It was the same portrait without any change. He had just rubbed a piece of meat on the feet of the portrait of that woman which had attracted the dog.
Moral : Intelligence never goes waste.
