A Peasant had in his garden
an Apple-tree
which for year after year
had borne no
fruit, but served only as
a harbor for spar-
rows and grasshoppers.
Seeing no good to himself
in the tree, he
resolved to cut it down,
and, taking his axe
in his hand, he made a
bold stroke at its
roots.
The grasshoppers and sparrows
entreated
him not to cut down the
tree that sheltered
them. "We will do our best
to make up to
you the worth of the wood, if
you will spare
it," they said, "lightening your labor
by our
cheering songs." But he
paid no heed to
them, and gave a second
and a third blow
with his axe.
When he reached the hollow of
the tree, he
found a hive full of honey.
He tasted the
honeycomb, and at once threw down his axe.
From that time the greatest of care was taken
of the tree, and the sparrows
and grasshop-
pers still found shelter in it. They
could not
forget, however, that the man had only saved
their home for them from
self-interest.
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