THE PEASANT AND THE APPLE-TREE

A Peasant had an Apple-tree growing in his garden, which bore no fruit, but merely served to provide a shelter from the heat for the sparrows and grasshoppers which sat and chirped in its branches. Disappointed at its barrenness he determined to cut it down, and went and fetched his axe for the purpose. But when the sparrows and the grasshoppers saw what he was about to do, they begged him to spare it, and said to him, “If you destroy the tree we shall have to seek shelter elsewhere, and you will no longer have our merry chirping to enliven your work in the garden.” He, however, refused to listen to them, and set to work with a will to cut through the trunk. A few strokes showed that it was hollow inside and contained a swarm of bees and a large store of honey. Delighted with his find he threw down his axe, saying, “The old tree is worth keeping after all.”

Utility is most men's test of worth.

农夫和苹果树

有一个农夫的果园里有一棵苹果树，不结果子，只能让麻雀和蚂蚱躲躲阴凉，让他们坐在他的树枝上唱歌。因为果树不长果子，农夫很失望，便决定将他砍倒，于是便去取了斧子。麻雀们和蚂蚱们看到了，便恳求他不要砍树：“如果你把树砍了，我们就要去别的地方寻找阴凉了，到时候你在果园中劳作的时候就再也听不到我们歌唱了。”但是农夫没有听他们的建议，开始了砍树的工作。砍了几下之后，他发现树其实已经空了，里面有一大窝蜜蜂和很多蜂蜜。他十分惊喜，将斧头扔到一边，说：“看样子这棵老树还是值得留着的。”

训诫：有用才是财富。