WHO IS STRONGER
Father had three sons. All of them grew up. Every boy was taller, stronger and more handsome than the other one.
One day their father decided to examine their wisdom. He put his hand on elder son’s shoulder and asked:
– My son, can you tell me who is stronger – you or me?
The elder son looked at his father and said:
– Of course, dad, I am stronger than you.
Father took his hand away and asked again:
– Do think well, my son. Am I stronger or you?
His son again repeated the same answer.
Father put his hand on the shoulder of the second boy and asked:
– My son, can you tell me who is stronger – you or me?
The second son looked at his father and said:
– Of course, dad, I am stronger than you.
Father took his hand away and asked again:
Do think well, my son. Am I stronger or you?
His son again repeated the same answer.
Father said nothing and came to his younger son. He put his hand on the shoulder of the younger son and asked:
– My son, can you tell me who is stronger – you or me?
The second son looked at his father and said:
– Of course, dad, I am stronger than you.
Father took his hand away and asked again:
– Do think well, my son. Am I stronger or you?
His younger son answered without thinking long:
– Probably you are stronger, dad.
Father smiled, but did not show his joy:
– Now tell me, my son, why have you changed your mind?
– Dear dad, I was stronger because your hand was on my shoulder at first and I felt your strength as mine.
BACK FROM THE FOREST
Once my grandson asked me to take him to the forest to gather mushrooms. And I took him with me.
My grandson grew up in a big city. It was for the first time he was in the forest. Everything was new and interesting for him there. He stopped in every step, looked around, listened to the whispering of leaves, twinkling of birds and asked many questions. We gathered many mushrooms. I was secretly looking at my grandson. He was very tired. He did not complain but was barely able to drag his feet. He did not ask questions any more.
Suddenly he asked:
– Granddad, what kind of trees are these?
It seemed he saw those trees just at that moment.
– They are pine-trees – I answered.
I thought he was going to ask again. But he was going quietly hanging his head. There was only one tree on our way. It was a huge tree with lots of branches. We sat under its shadow to have a rest. My grandson asked again:
– What is this tree, Granddad?
– This is a pine-tree. – I said. – Don’t you know it?
– Really? – He looked at me doubtfully.
– Why do you ask?
– It does not look like a pine-tree.
– Why?
– The pine-trees are high and straight in the forest. But this one has wide branches.
I liked my grandson’s ability of observation:
– You are very attentive – I said. – The pine-trees grow very closely in the forest. They have to rise higher in order to reach the sun. This is their struggle for life. Have you seen branches in down part of the tree, which dried in the shadow? Sometimes you have to sacrifice something in order to remain alive. But there is much space, fresh air and sunlight here.
My grandson asked without thinking:
– As city and village?
– What do you mean? – I did not understand anything.
My grandson explained:
– Look here, granddad. The skyscrapers were built very closely to each other in the city. They are as high as pine-trees in the forest. They always try to rise higher to the sky. But villages have much space and the houses are not high here.
THE FRIENDS OF THE NATURE
It was early spring. The school-garden was very crowded. The schoolchildren were busy on watering trees, cutting their dried branches and cleaning irrigation ditches.
Suddenly the pupil of the seventh form Nadir began to boast:
– Our class is the leader in every task.
His classmates endorsed him:
– We are the real friends of the nature.
The pupils of the eighth form objected to them:
– In any case, you cannot be compared with us.
Hearing it, the other children began to object to them. All of them tried to prove that they were real friends of the nature.
The director of the school was informed about it. He consulted with teachers to solve the problem fairly. A special commission was organized. Then the director told the children:
– Don’t worry. The commission will determine the real friend of the nature in the end of the school year.
The schoolchildren began to compete after this news.
At last, the school year came to an end. The commission announced the pupils of the fifth form as winners. They awarded with new textbooks solemnly.
Most of the children did not expect such a decision. That was why the director had to give explanation:
– Children, it is fact that the pupils of the fifth form planted less trees than other classes. But they protected their textbooks better than others. So the pupils of the next fifth form will be able to use their books easily in a new school year. To take care of books means to take care of trees, to protect the nature and to be the true friend of the nature. Publishing of these books needs much paper. The paper is get by the destruction of trees and forests.
The children had never thought about it.
AZER’S SPARROWS
It was early spring. The breath of spring spread everywhere. The people wore their light clothes. Everywhere was green and trees blossomed.
Azer was playing under the big mulberry tree all day long. He had a cap all winter on his head. Every time he threw his cap higher and higher. Next time when he threw it, the cap did not fall down. He looked up in surprise. His cap hung on the branch of the tree.
Azer was a little boy. He could not climb up the tree. He tried to take the cap down from the tree throwing stones on the branches. But he could not.
Azer had a cat. He called the cat and showed his cap on the tree:
– Climb up and bring me the cap.
The cat climbed up the mulberry tree scratching with its claws the trunk of the tree full of cracks. But the cat was afraid of approaching the cap. The branch was very thin. The cat tried to touch the cap with its front paws but could not.
As the days were getting warm Azer had no need to wear the cap. That was why he forgot about it.
One day, Azer’s family had a tea – time under the mulberry tree. His father looked upwards when the twinkling of sparrows was heard in the tree. He noticed the cap among the green leaves.
– Whose is this cap?
Azer was frightened. He did not want to be reproached. But he told how the cap appeared on the tree. His father called the elder son and said:
– Climb