- Published on
The Fox and the Grapes
One hot Summer day, a Fox was strolling through an orchard. Upon coming to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine, which had been trained over a lofty branch, he thought to himself, “Those grapes are just the thing to quench my thirst.” Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried to reach the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: “I am sure they are sour.”
Moral, or lesson, of the story: One can all too easily console oneself by despising that which one cannot obtain without greater effort or ingenuity.
by Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or have jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
One hot Summer day, a Fox was strolling through an orchard. Upon coming to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine, which had been trained over a lofty branch, he thought to himself, “Those grapes are just the thing to quench my thirst.” Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried to reach the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: “I am sure they are sour.”
Moral, or lesson, of the story: One can all too easily console oneself by despising that which one cannot obtain without greater effort or ingenuity.
by Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or have jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
- Published on
The Fox and the Crow
A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. “That’s for me, as I am a Fox,” said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. “Good-day, Mistress Crow,” he cried. “How well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.” The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. “That will do,” said he. “That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future.
Moral, or lesson, of the story: Do not trust flatterers.
attributed to Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, and is credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or have jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
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A version of the above fable, as a poem, follows.
The Fox and the Crow
The fox and the crow,
In prose, I well know,
Many good little girls can rehearse:
Perhaps it will tell
Pretty nearly as well,
If we try the same fable in verse.
In a dairy a crow,
Having ventured to go,
Some food for her young ones to seek,
Flew up in the trees,
With a fine piece of cheese,
Which she joyfully held in her beak.
A fox, who lived by,
To the tree saw her fly,
And to share in the prize made a vow;
For having just dined,
He for cheese felt inclined,
So he went and sat under the bough.
She was cunning, he knew,
But so was he too,
And with flattery adapted his plan;
For he knew if she’d speak,
It must fall from her beak,
So, bowing politely, began.
“’Tis a very fine day”
(Not a word did she say):
“The wind, I believe, ma’am, is south:
A fine harvest for peas:”
He then looked at the cheese,
But the crow did not open her mouth.
Sly Reynard, not tired,
Her plumage admired,
“How charming! how brilliant its hue!
The voice must be fine,
Of a bird so divine,
Ah, let me just hear it, pray do.
“Believe me, I long
To hear a sweet song!”
The silly crow foolishly tries:
She scarce gave one squall,
When the cheese she let fall,
And the fox ran away with the prize.
Moral
Ye innocent fair,
Of coxcombs beware,
To flattery never give ear;
Try well each pretense,
And keep to plain sense,
And then you have little to fear.
by Little B. (Taylor?): as published in Hamilton Wright Mabie, Edward Everett Hale, and William Byron Forbush, editors: “Childhood’s Favorites and Fairy Stories: The Young Folks Treasury” (1927)
A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. “That’s for me, as I am a Fox,” said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. “Good-day, Mistress Crow,” he cried. “How well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.” The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. “That will do,” said he. “That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future.
Moral, or lesson, of the story: Do not trust flatterers.
attributed to Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, and is credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or have jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
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A version of the above fable, as a poem, follows.
The Fox and the Crow
The fox and the crow,
In prose, I well know,
Many good little girls can rehearse:
Perhaps it will tell
Pretty nearly as well,
If we try the same fable in verse.
In a dairy a crow,
Having ventured to go,
Some food for her young ones to seek,
Flew up in the trees,
With a fine piece of cheese,
Which she joyfully held in her beak.
A fox, who lived by,
To the tree saw her fly,
And to share in the prize made a vow;
For having just dined,
He for cheese felt inclined,
So he went and sat under the bough.
She was cunning, he knew,
But so was he too,
And with flattery adapted his plan;
For he knew if she’d speak,
It must fall from her beak,
So, bowing politely, began.
“’Tis a very fine day”
(Not a word did she say):
“The wind, I believe, ma’am, is south:
A fine harvest for peas:”
He then looked at the cheese,
But the crow did not open her mouth.
Sly Reynard, not tired,
Her plumage admired,
“How charming! how brilliant its hue!
The voice must be fine,
Of a bird so divine,
Ah, let me just hear it, pray do.
“Believe me, I long
To hear a sweet song!”
The silly crow foolishly tries:
She scarce gave one squall,
When the cheese she let fall,
And the fox ran away with the prize.
Moral
Ye innocent fair,
Of coxcombs beware,
To flattery never give ear;
Try well each pretense,
And keep to plain sense,
And then you have little to fear.
by Little B. (Taylor?): as published in Hamilton Wright Mabie, Edward Everett Hale, and William Byron Forbush, editors: “Childhood’s Favorites and Fairy Stories: The Young Folks Treasury” (1927)
- Published on
The Dog and the Wolf
A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a Housedog who was passing by. “Ah, Cousin,” said the Dog. “I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?” “I would have no objection,” said the Wolf, “if I could only get a place.” “I will easily arrange that for you,” said the Dog; “come with me to my master and you shall share my work.” So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the way there, the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the Dog’s neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that had come about. “Oh, it is nothing,” said the Dog. “That is only the place where the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it.” “Is that all?” said the Wolf. “Then good-bye to you, Master Dog.”
Moral, or lesson, of the story: Better to starve in freedom than to be a fat slave.
attributed to Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, and is credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or hold paying jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a Housedog who was passing by. “Ah, Cousin,” said the Dog. “I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?” “I would have no objection,” said the Wolf, “if I could only get a place.” “I will easily arrange that for you,” said the Dog; “come with me to my master and you shall share my work.” So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the way there, the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the Dog’s neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that had come about. “Oh, it is nothing,” said the Dog. “That is only the place where the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it.” “Is that all?” said the Wolf. “Then good-bye to you, Master Dog.”
Moral, or lesson, of the story: Better to starve in freedom than to be a fat slave.
attributed to Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, and is credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or hold paying jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
- Published on
Little Bunny Foo-Foo
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
And along came a good fairy and she said:
“Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
I don’t want to see you,
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
I’ll give you three more chances.
And if you’re not good,
I’ll turn you into a goon!”
So the next day . . .
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
Along came the good fairy and she said:
“Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
I don’t want to see you.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
I’ll give you two more chances.
And if you’re not good,
I’ll turn you into a goon!”
So the next day . . .
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
And along came a good fairy and she said:
“Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
I don’t want to see you.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
I’ll give you one more chance.
And if you’re not good,
I’ll turn you into a goon!”
So the next day . . .
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
“I gave you three chances to be good,
And you didn’t behave.
And now, I’m going to turn you into a goon!”
And so, poof!
The moral of the story is: Hare today, goon tomorrow . . . or, if you do not behave yourself and treat others nicely, something just awful will happen to you!
by Author Unknown
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
And along came a good fairy and she said:
“Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
I don’t want to see you,
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
I’ll give you three more chances.
And if you’re not good,
I’ll turn you into a goon!”
So the next day . . .
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
Along came the good fairy and she said:
“Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
I don’t want to see you.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
I’ll give you two more chances.
And if you’re not good,
I’ll turn you into a goon!”
So the next day . . .
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
And along came a good fairy and she said:
“Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
I don’t want to see you.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
I’ll give you one more chance.
And if you’re not good,
I’ll turn you into a goon!”
So the next day . . .
Little Bunny Foo-Foo,
Hopping through the forest.
Scooping up the field mice,
And bopping them on the head.
“I gave you three chances to be good,
And you didn’t behave.
And now, I’m going to turn you into a goon!”
And so, poof!
The moral of the story is: Hare today, goon tomorrow . . . or, if you do not behave yourself and treat others nicely, something just awful will happen to you!
by Author Unknown
- Published on
The Tortoise and the Hare
A Hare insulted a Tortoise upon account of his slowness, and vainly boasted of her own great speed in running. “Let us have a match,” replied the Tortoise. “I will run with you five miles, and the fox yonder shall be the umpire of the race.” The Hare agreed; and away they both started together. But the Hare, by reason of her exceeding swiftness, outran the Tortoise to such a degree, that she made a jest of the matter; and, finding herself a little tired, settled into a tuft of fern that grew by the way, and took a nap; thinking that, if the Tortoise went by, she could at any time catch up with him with all the ease imaginable. In the meantime, while the Tortoise came jogging along with slow but persistent effort, the Hare, out of a too great a feeling of superiority and confidence of victory, overslept, and the Tortoise arrived at the end of the race first.
The moral of the story is, slow and steady wins the race, while bragging and slacking loses the race.
attributed to Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, and is credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or have jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
A Hare insulted a Tortoise upon account of his slowness, and vainly boasted of her own great speed in running. “Let us have a match,” replied the Tortoise. “I will run with you five miles, and the fox yonder shall be the umpire of the race.” The Hare agreed; and away they both started together. But the Hare, by reason of her exceeding swiftness, outran the Tortoise to such a degree, that she made a jest of the matter; and, finding herself a little tired, settled into a tuft of fern that grew by the way, and took a nap; thinking that, if the Tortoise went by, she could at any time catch up with him with all the ease imaginable. In the meantime, while the Tortoise came jogging along with slow but persistent effort, the Hare, out of a too great a feeling of superiority and confidence of victory, overslept, and the Tortoise arrived at the end of the race first.
The moral of the story is, slow and steady wins the race, while bragging and slacking loses the race.
attributed to Aesop
Aesop may or may not have been an actual person. If real, he would have been born in about 620 B.C.E. He would have been a fabulist, or storyteller, and is credited with a number of works known collectively as “Aesop’s Fables.” In some of the stories, animals possess human characteristics, such as the ability to speak or have jobs. Aesop would have passed on at about 56 years of age in about 564 B.C.E.
- Published on
The Weight of a Snowflake
“Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” a coalmouse* asked a wild dove.” Nothing more than nothing,” responded the dove.
“In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story,” the coalmouse said.” I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow, not heavily, not in a raging blizzard . . . no . . . just like in a dream, without any violence. Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch weighing nothing more than nothing, as you say, the branch broke off.”
Having said that, the coalmouse flew away. The dove, having been since Noah’s time an authority on the matter, thought about the story for a while and finally said to herself, “Perhaps there is only one person’s voice lacking for peace to come about in the world.”
by Author Unknown
* coalmouse: a type of small, wild bird.
“Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” a coalmouse* asked a wild dove.” Nothing more than nothing,” responded the dove.
“In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story,” the coalmouse said.” I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow, not heavily, not in a raging blizzard . . . no . . . just like in a dream, without any violence. Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch weighing nothing more than nothing, as you say, the branch broke off.”
Having said that, the coalmouse flew away. The dove, having been since Noah’s time an authority on the matter, thought about the story for a while and finally said to herself, “Perhaps there is only one person’s voice lacking for peace to come about in the world.”
by Author Unknown
* coalmouse: a type of small, wild bird.
- Published on
Once upon a time, and maybe even nowadays, whole oysters in their shells could be bought in cans. You would open up the can, and possibly or possibly not, find inside the oyster shell, a pearl . . .
The Oyster’s Story
There once was an oyster
Whose story I’ll tell,
Who found that some sand
Had worked under his shell.
Just one little grain
But it gave him such pain
(For oysters have feelings
That are very plain).
Now did he berate
This working of fate,
That left him in such a
Deplorable state?
Did he curse the government?
Call for an election?
Or gripe that the sea
Should have given him protection?
No! He said to himself
As he sat on the shelf,
“Since I cannot remove it,
I think I’ll improve it.”
Well, years passed by,
As years always do,
Till he came to his destiny,
Oyster stew!
But the small grain of sand
That had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl
All richly aglow.
Now this tale has a moral,
For isn’t it grand,
What an oyster can do
With a small grain of sand?
And what couldn’t we do
If we’d only begin
With all of the things
That get under our skin?
by Author Unknown
The Oyster’s Story
There once was an oyster
Whose story I’ll tell,
Who found that some sand
Had worked under his shell.
Just one little grain
But it gave him such pain
(For oysters have feelings
That are very plain).
Now did he berate
This working of fate,
That left him in such a
Deplorable state?
Did he curse the government?
Call for an election?
Or gripe that the sea
Should have given him protection?
No! He said to himself
As he sat on the shelf,
“Since I cannot remove it,
I think I’ll improve it.”
Well, years passed by,
As years always do,
Till he came to his destiny,
Oyster stew!
But the small grain of sand
That had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl
All richly aglow.
Now this tale has a moral,
For isn’t it grand,
What an oyster can do
With a small grain of sand?
And what couldn’t we do
If we’d only begin
With all of the things
That get under our skin?
by Author Unknown
- Published on
Conference of the Carpenter’s Tools
One day, the carpenter’s tools had a conference. Brother Hammer was in the chair. Upon bringing the meeting to order, he said he understood that there were complaints among his fellow tools and he thought it would be good to discuss it openly together.
“Yes, Brother Saw, what is your complaint?”
Brother Saw stood up and said, “It’s that little Brother Pencil. He gets on everyone’s nerves, he is so small. He can’t be found when he’s needed and when he’s doing service, he is so blunt at times that he makes very bad impressions. He certainly needs to be sharpened up a bit around here if he expects to be of any use!”
Little Brother Pencil slowly rose to his feet and said, “All right, perhaps I am a little blunt at times. It’s only when I spend too long a time in service that I’m like that, but at least I’m not like Brother Drill and his family of small bits. They are always going around in circles, and really, Brother Drill seems just a bit boring.”
Brother Drill and his family of small bits stood up and replied, “Yes, I know we have a reputation for going in circles, but at least we are not like Brother Plane. You really have to push him to get him to do anything at all. And then, all of his work is on the surface. There certainly is no depth to his work like there is to ours.”
All eyes turned to Brother Plane to see what he would say. Quickly Brother Plane spoke up. “Brothers, I guess I’m not the only one around here that has to be pushed to do anything or that has no depth to his service. Brother Sandpaper is worse than I am.” Brother Sandpaper was somewhat new in their midst. “Besides, look how rough he is. I just can’t stand being next to him. He just rubs me the wrong way. How he could accomplish any good in his service being so rough, I’ll never know.”
That remark made Brother Sandpaper really angry. “Brother Plane is just jealous, that’s all! And while everyone is complaining, I’d like to complain about Brother Rule. He makes me grit my teeth; always measuring others by his standards as though he’s the only one who is right around here.
How about Brother Level? He is so exacting! And there’s Brother Compass and Brother Tape Measure and that Brother Punch doesn’t finish what he starts most of the time.”
Well, the tools were really getting hot. Their tempers were flaring. All seemed to have legitimate complaints against one another, but just then, when some were even getting ready to walk out of the carpenter’s hall, some thinking that they were not useful or needed, who should walk in but the Master Carpenter from Nazareth. He had come to perform His work for the day.
His Father had asked Him to build a house that they could both dwell in and He was now almost finished with it. He put His work clothes on and started to finish the work His Father had given Him to do. He used every tool.
Now someone else appeared on the scene. It was the carpenter’s Father. How thrilled and pleased He was to see what His Son had accomplished. “How did you do it, my Son?” asked the Father.
“I put to good use all of the tools that I bought and how I love every one of them. I paid a high price for them, Father, but they are well worth it.
See the hammer over there? He is so useful for both the work of tearing down and building up. He is very effective in service because he really hits the nail on the head. He’s a very solid worker, I must say.
Then there is the saw. He’s really pretty sharp and puts his teeth into the work, constantly going back and forth in one area at a time for very effective service
I am certainly happy to have my pencil. Although he’s not very big and I have to sharpen him from time to time, just like some of the other tools, he is very useful in the correcting and marking work.
“Father, here is another tool I just couldn’t be without. Big drill and these small bits of his family. They are all so good at reaching deep into the heart and are always leaving the way open for additional work.
And just look at this plane. He is so handy to have around in service. He’s such a smooth worker and doesn’t bite off more than he can handle at one time. He is certainly good at overcoming obstacles as well.
And do you see Brother Level over there? He has a good eye for balance and is very level headed.
And although little Brother Punch is very small, with the assistance of Brother Hammer, he does an excellent job of driving his point home.
Although Brother Tape Measure is small in size, he is always extending himself to meet various circumstances and, like Brother Rule, is accurate in his statements.
Even my new tools, like Brother Sandpaper, I wouldn’t want to do without him. Although there is a certain roughness, he will wind up with smooth results.”
“So you see Father, I’m thankful because I have this variety of tools. With their service, I will finish your house. Let me show you around the rest of the building.”
Well, upon their leaving, all of the carpenter’s tools started rejoicing because each received compliments from the Master and saw how pleased His Father was with what they all had accomplished together.
Brother Hammer now again rose in the midst and said, “Brothers, I perceive that all of us are needed. For although we all may have our weak points at times, and we do not do things exactly the way others think we should, whether we are old or new, large or small, we are all important tools in the hands of the Master Carpenter.”
by Author Unknown
One day, the carpenter’s tools had a conference. Brother Hammer was in the chair. Upon bringing the meeting to order, he said he understood that there were complaints among his fellow tools and he thought it would be good to discuss it openly together.
“Yes, Brother Saw, what is your complaint?”
Brother Saw stood up and said, “It’s that little Brother Pencil. He gets on everyone’s nerves, he is so small. He can’t be found when he’s needed and when he’s doing service, he is so blunt at times that he makes very bad impressions. He certainly needs to be sharpened up a bit around here if he expects to be of any use!”
Little Brother Pencil slowly rose to his feet and said, “All right, perhaps I am a little blunt at times. It’s only when I spend too long a time in service that I’m like that, but at least I’m not like Brother Drill and his family of small bits. They are always going around in circles, and really, Brother Drill seems just a bit boring.”
Brother Drill and his family of small bits stood up and replied, “Yes, I know we have a reputation for going in circles, but at least we are not like Brother Plane. You really have to push him to get him to do anything at all. And then, all of his work is on the surface. There certainly is no depth to his work like there is to ours.”
All eyes turned to Brother Plane to see what he would say. Quickly Brother Plane spoke up. “Brothers, I guess I’m not the only one around here that has to be pushed to do anything or that has no depth to his service. Brother Sandpaper is worse than I am.” Brother Sandpaper was somewhat new in their midst. “Besides, look how rough he is. I just can’t stand being next to him. He just rubs me the wrong way. How he could accomplish any good in his service being so rough, I’ll never know.”
That remark made Brother Sandpaper really angry. “Brother Plane is just jealous, that’s all! And while everyone is complaining, I’d like to complain about Brother Rule. He makes me grit my teeth; always measuring others by his standards as though he’s the only one who is right around here.
How about Brother Level? He is so exacting! And there’s Brother Compass and Brother Tape Measure and that Brother Punch doesn’t finish what he starts most of the time.”
Well, the tools were really getting hot. Their tempers were flaring. All seemed to have legitimate complaints against one another, but just then, when some were even getting ready to walk out of the carpenter’s hall, some thinking that they were not useful or needed, who should walk in but the Master Carpenter from Nazareth. He had come to perform His work for the day.
His Father had asked Him to build a house that they could both dwell in and He was now almost finished with it. He put His work clothes on and started to finish the work His Father had given Him to do. He used every tool.
Now someone else appeared on the scene. It was the carpenter’s Father. How thrilled and pleased He was to see what His Son had accomplished. “How did you do it, my Son?” asked the Father.
“I put to good use all of the tools that I bought and how I love every one of them. I paid a high price for them, Father, but they are well worth it.
See the hammer over there? He is so useful for both the work of tearing down and building up. He is very effective in service because he really hits the nail on the head. He’s a very solid worker, I must say.
Then there is the saw. He’s really pretty sharp and puts his teeth into the work, constantly going back and forth in one area at a time for very effective service
I am certainly happy to have my pencil. Although he’s not very big and I have to sharpen him from time to time, just like some of the other tools, he is very useful in the correcting and marking work.
“Father, here is another tool I just couldn’t be without. Big drill and these small bits of his family. They are all so good at reaching deep into the heart and are always leaving the way open for additional work.
And just look at this plane. He is so handy to have around in service. He’s such a smooth worker and doesn’t bite off more than he can handle at one time. He is certainly good at overcoming obstacles as well.
And do you see Brother Level over there? He has a good eye for balance and is very level headed.
And although little Brother Punch is very small, with the assistance of Brother Hammer, he does an excellent job of driving his point home.
Although Brother Tape Measure is small in size, he is always extending himself to meet various circumstances and, like Brother Rule, is accurate in his statements.
Even my new tools, like Brother Sandpaper, I wouldn’t want to do without him. Although there is a certain roughness, he will wind up with smooth results.”
“So you see Father, I’m thankful because I have this variety of tools. With their service, I will finish your house. Let me show you around the rest of the building.”
Well, upon their leaving, all of the carpenter’s tools started rejoicing because each received compliments from the Master and saw how pleased His Father was with what they all had accomplished together.
Brother Hammer now again rose in the midst and said, “Brothers, I perceive that all of us are needed. For although we all may have our weak points at times, and we do not do things exactly the way others think we should, whether we are old or new, large or small, we are all important tools in the hands of the Master Carpenter.”
by Author Unknown
- Published on
Train Ride
An old man was sitting with his twenty-five-year-old son on a train. The train was about to leave the station. All of the passengers were settling down into their seats for the journey. As the train started, the young man was filled with joy and curiosity. He was sitting at the window seat. He put out one hand and felt the passing air. He shouted, “Papa, see all the trees are going behind.” The old man smiled and admired his son’s feelings. Beside the young man, one couple was sitting and listing to the conversion between the father and son. They were a little awkward with the attitude of a twenty-five-year-old man behaving like a small child. Suddenly the young man again shouted, “Papa, see the pond and animals. The clouds are moving with the train.” The couple was watching the young man in embarrassment. Then it started raining and some of the water drops touched the young man’s hand. He was filled with joy and he closed the eyes. He shouted again, “Papa, it’s raining, water is touching me, see Papa.” The couple could not help themselves and asked the old man, “Why don’t you visit a doctor and get treatment for your son?” The old man said, “Yes, we are coming from the hospital, and only today did my son get his eyesight, for the first time in his life.”
The moral of the story is: We ought to refrain from drawing conclusions until the facts are known.
by Author Unknown
An old man was sitting with his twenty-five-year-old son on a train. The train was about to leave the station. All of the passengers were settling down into their seats for the journey. As the train started, the young man was filled with joy and curiosity. He was sitting at the window seat. He put out one hand and felt the passing air. He shouted, “Papa, see all the trees are going behind.” The old man smiled and admired his son’s feelings. Beside the young man, one couple was sitting and listing to the conversion between the father and son. They were a little awkward with the attitude of a twenty-five-year-old man behaving like a small child. Suddenly the young man again shouted, “Papa, see the pond and animals. The clouds are moving with the train.” The couple was watching the young man in embarrassment. Then it started raining and some of the water drops touched the young man’s hand. He was filled with joy and he closed the eyes. He shouted again, “Papa, it’s raining, water is touching me, see Papa.” The couple could not help themselves and asked the old man, “Why don’t you visit a doctor and get treatment for your son?” The old man said, “Yes, we are coming from the hospital, and only today did my son get his eyesight, for the first time in his life.”
The moral of the story is: We ought to refrain from drawing conclusions until the facts are known.
by Author Unknown
- Published on
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Once there was a shepherd boy who had to look after a flock of sheep. One day, he felt bored and decided to play a trick on the villagers. He shouted, “Help! Wolf! Wolf!”
The villagers heard his cries and rushed out of the village to help the shepherd boy. When they reached him, they asked, “Where is the wolf?” The shepherd boy laughed loudly, “Ha, Ha, Ha! I fooled all of you.
I was only playing a trick on you.”
A few days later, the shepherd boy played this trick again.
Again he cried, “Help! Help! Wolf! Wolf!” Again, the villagers rushed up the hill to help him and again they found that boy had tricked them. They were very angry with him for being so naughty.
Then, some time later, a wolf went into the field. The wolf attacked one sheep, and then another and another. The shepherd boy ran towards the village shouting, “Help! Help! Wolf! Help! Somebody!”
The villagers heard his cries but they laughed because they thought it was another trick. The boy ran to the nearest villager and said, “A wolf is attacking the sheep. I lied before, but this time it is true!”
Finally, the villagers went to look. It was true. They could see the wolf running away and many dead sheep lying on the grass.
Moral of the story: We may not believe someone who often tells lies, even when he tells the truth.
by Author Unknown
Once there was a shepherd boy who had to look after a flock of sheep. One day, he felt bored and decided to play a trick on the villagers. He shouted, “Help! Wolf! Wolf!”
The villagers heard his cries and rushed out of the village to help the shepherd boy. When they reached him, they asked, “Where is the wolf?” The shepherd boy laughed loudly, “Ha, Ha, Ha! I fooled all of you.
I was only playing a trick on you.”
A few days later, the shepherd boy played this trick again.
Again he cried, “Help! Help! Wolf! Wolf!” Again, the villagers rushed up the hill to help him and again they found that boy had tricked them. They were very angry with him for being so naughty.
Then, some time later, a wolf went into the field. The wolf attacked one sheep, and then another and another. The shepherd boy ran towards the village shouting, “Help! Help! Wolf! Help! Somebody!”
The villagers heard his cries but they laughed because they thought it was another trick. The boy ran to the nearest villager and said, “A wolf is attacking the sheep. I lied before, but this time it is true!”
Finally, the villagers went to look. It was true. They could see the wolf running away and many dead sheep lying on the grass.
Moral of the story: We may not believe someone who often tells lies, even when he tells the truth.
by Author Unknown
