In a forest stood a tree. It had a thick and strong trunk and graceful branches. Its leaves were big and glossy, glistening in the sunshine. It stood taller than all the other trees around, so it was very proud.
Near the tree stood a small plant. It looked frail and had pretty flowers. But it did not have a thick trunk. Nor was it tall. It was really tiny compared to the tall tree. The tree looked at it and smiled with a very superior air.
“You really must be the smallest fellow in the forest,” commented the tree one day. “That is quite possible, sir,” replied the humble little plant.
The tree laughed. “You should be like me, tall and strong. Otherwise, you’ll get destroyed, O little one.”
“Well, sir, I do admire you. But I don’t think I am going to grow so big,” said the plant, looking admiringly at the tree. It felt just a little envious. Then it sighed and decided there was nothing it could do to become like the tree.
One day, there was a terrible storm. The clouds gathered and the little plant was terrified to hear the thunder and shivered as lightning streaked across the sky. Rain fell in sheets and when it cleared, the wind howled through the forest. The little plant shut its eyes and cowered down in fright.
By morning the wind died down and all was quiet. The frightened little plant uncurled its leaves and stood up again, looking around.
“Where’s the tree?” it thought suddenly. There was no sign of the tree! Then it saw that the huge tree had crashed to the ground, felled by the storm. The little plant was extremely sad seeing it lying so helplessly on the forest floor.
Soon a lot of men came with axes and began to lop off the branches, and chop up the wood. The wood was taken away in carts. Many people made the bundles of leaves and took them away too. By the next day, nothing was left of the tree.
“It’s good being small,” thought the plant wisely, “I was able to weather the storm because of my size. I need not have been jealous of the tree after all.”
Moral: Humility lasts; arrogance does not.
