Aesop's Fable: The Peasant and the Apple-Tree

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The Peasant and the Apple-Tree

A PEASANT had in his garden an Apple-Tree which bore no fruit but only

served as a harbor for the sparrows and grasshoppers. He resolved to

cut it down, and taking his axe in his hand, made a bold stroke at its

roots. The grasshoppers and sparrows entreated him not to cut down the

tree that sheltered them, but to spare it, and they would sing to him

and lighten his labors. He paid no attention to their request, but gave

the tree a second and a third blow with his axe. When he reached the

hollow of the tree, he found a hive full of honey. Having tasted the

honeycomb, he threw down his axe, and looking on the tree as

sacred, took great care of it.

Self-interest alone moves some men.