On a cold, rainy day, a boy found a turtle along the river. He was very happy, hoping to raise the turtle as his lovely pet.
He put the turtle on a stone and watched it for a long time. But the turtle didn't move.
Out of curiosity, the boy started to examine it to find out what was wrong with it. But the turtle pulled in its head and firmly closed its shell. The boy was upset. He grabbed the turtle and began to shake it. But the turtle still stayed in its shell. The boy picked up a stick to try to pry it open. The boy's uncle was watching all of this.
"No, that's not the way," he yelled.
"In fact, you may kill the turtle before you make it open up with a stick."
The boy's uncle took the turtle into the house and set it near the fireplace. The turtle didn't move at all until it got warm. Then it pushed out its head, stretched out its legs and began to crawl.
"Turtles are like that," said the uncle, "and people, too."
