The Farmer and his sons (1)

The Farmer and his sons (1)

Once upon a time there was a farmer and his seven sons.

The farmer overheard his sons arguing so he quickly ran to them to break up the fight.

" Oh boys, you shouldn't be arguing with each other. That is no way to live.," scolded the farmer.

The sons would not listen and they never could get along.
They argued with each other everyday.

Seeing this, the farmer decided to put an end to it.

He grabbed seven sticks and tied them together to represent his seven sons.

Then he took the bundle to show them.
" Now, try to break these sticks, " said the father to the oldest son.

The oldest son thought that he was the strongest, so he just laughed at his father's request, and tried to break the sticks.

But the sticks would not break.

(1/2) 
日本の戦国時代における毛利家の逸話と似ているのですが。

The Farmer and his sons (2 完)

The Farmer and his sons (2 完)

The second oldest son tried break it also, but still the sticks would not crack.

They repeated this until all the sons had tried to break the seven sticks that were tied together.
But their efforts were useless.

Then the farmer untied the sticks and gave each son one of them.

" Now break them, " said the father.

The sons all broke their sticks very easily.

" See, when you are together and get along, you are much stronger. But alone, you are weak and can be easily harmed, " said the father.

The sons understood what their father was trying to teach them and they learned to get along.

In result, they were all able to stand together and help each other through their problems and difficulties.

(2/2 完)