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P. V. Ramaswami Raju

The Workman and the Trees

A woodman entered a wood with his axe on his shoulder. The trees were alarmed, and addressed him thus: "Ah, sir, will you not let us live happily some little time longer?"


[Illustration]

The Workman and the Trees

"Yes," said the woodman, "I am quite willing to do so; but as often as I see this axe, I am tempted to come to the wood, and do my work in it. So I am not so much to blame as this axe."

"We know," said the trees, "that the handle of the axe, which is a piece of the branch of a tree in this very wood, is more to blame than the iron; for it is that which helps you to destroy its kindred."

"You are quite right," said the woodman; "there is no foe so bitter as a renegade."