The carter starts his journey early in the morning, leaves his children and wife alone in a very small house, and carries his wife’s deliciously prepared rice parcel with him.
On the way to the city with the cart loaded with merchandise, the carter will have to face much trouble. He is trying to survive the catastrophic storms and torrential rains, thinking of the future of his children.
He also drives a very heavy cart, climbs mountains and tirelessly travels the town to find his day’s income. He goes to the town, thinking of the two oxen tied to the cart.
The carter’s thoughts
Sometimes, he wonders how to repair the cart if something happens to it. Or else, what if something happens to the oxen which are pulling the cart? What would this carter do if it 
happens that way? If the carter is travelling in the middle of a large forest, the carter will somehow repair the cart out of the half-rotten pieces of wood and an axe.
He tries to get to his destination somehow without even having breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overcoming all the obstacles and dangers, he thinks of his family.
When he sees deer roaming freely in the forest, he remembers his beloved children.When he thinks of his wife who works sweating in the hot sun, he becomes very sad.
Eventually, the carter travels to his destination and sells the merchandise and finds his day’s income.
When he sees the children of the wealthy families in the city, he is deeply saddened by his poor children. He feeds his family with the very little amount of money he earns.
A wish
May he and his beloved family not suffer like that in the next birth he wishes every day.
With this constant wish, he somehow lives his miserable and bitter life to the end.
G.M.Savinthi Nawanga
Grade 9
President Girls’ College
Kurunegala