The Old Farmer & his Sons

             An old farmer had three sons who would often fall out with one another. The father advised them not to do so, but they would never live in peace. The old man was in a great fix. He was at a loss to know what to do. At last he hit upon a clever plan.

             One day the old man called his sons to him and gave them a bundle of sticks.

“Well, my boys,” said he, “now break (he bundle to pieces.”

             Each of his sons tried with all his might to do so, but none succeeded.

             

             The old man then untied the bundle and asked his sons to break the sticks separately. This they could do quite easily.

             Then turning to his sons’, the old man said, “You see my sons, you cannot break the bundle. But you can easily break every stick of the bundle. So, if you live united, none can do you any harm. But if you fall out with one another, you will come to grief”

             The Sons then could understand that union is strength. From that day they began to live together in peace.

Moral: United we stand divided we fall.

Black Beard and White Hair

             There was an old Mahomedan. He was well-known in his locality for his long beard. Both his hair and beard were grey. But he had a wish to look younger than his years. So he was in the habit of dyeing his beard black. But as hair on his head was covered by his turban, he left it as it was.

             One hot day the old Mahomedan fell asleep, and his turban rolled off, leaving his white head exposed. It was indeed a funny sight. It excited laughter from his friends who saw it. One of his friends said to the old Mahomedan, “How funny it is! You have a fine young black beard, but old white hair on your head! “

             But the old Mahomedan had a great presence of mind. He cleverly replied “My friend, there is nothing strange in this. My beard is younger than my hair by some twenty years. So it is young at forty, while my hair is old and white at sixty.”