A farmer had a brother in town
who was a gardener, and who possessed a magnificent orchard full of
the finest fruit trees, so that his skill and his beautiful trees
were famous everywhere.
One day the farmer went into town to visit his brother, and was
astonished at the rows of trees that grew slender and smooth as wax
tapers.
``Look, my brother,'' said the gardener; ``I will give you an apple
tree, the best from my garden, and you, and your children, and your
children's children shall enjoy it.''
Then the gardener called his workmen and ordered them to take up the
tree and carry it to his brother's farm. They did so, and the
next morning the farmer began to wonder where he should plant it.
``If I plant it on the hill,'' said he to himself, ``the wind might
catch it and shake down the delicious fruit before it is ripe; if I
plant it close to the road, passers-by will see it and rob me of its
luscious apples; but if I plant it too near the door of my house, my
servants or the children may pick the fruit.''
So, after he had thought the matter over, he planted the tree behind
his barn, saying to himself: ``Prying thieves will not think to
look for it here.''
But behold, the tree bore neither fruit nor blossoms the first year
nor the second; then the farmer sent for his brother the gardener,
and reproached him angrily, saying:--
``You have deceived me, and given me a barren tree instead of a
fruitful one. For, behold, this is the third year and still it
brings forth nothing but leaves!''
The gardener, when he saw where the tree was planted, laughed and
said:--
``You have planted the tree where it is exposed to cold winds, and
has neither sun nor warmth. How, then, could you expect flowers and
fruit? You have planted the tree with a greedy and suspicious
heart; how, then, could you expect to reap a rich and generous
harvest?''