Aesop
|
Greece

The Farmer and The Apple Tree

A farmer wanted to cut down a barren apple tree but changed his mind after finding a hidden honey treasure.
Appreciation
Value
Patience
Aesop's Fables - The Farmer and The Apple Tree
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, a farmer had a large apple tree in his garden. This tree bore no apples, only leaves. It served as a home for sparrows that chirped in its branches, and grasshoppers that jumped about its base. Tired of seeing it fruitless year after year, the farmer decided to cut it down.

He went to his shed, took his sharp axe, and marched towards the tree. As he raised his axe, ready to strike a heavy blow at the roots, the sparrows and grasshoppers raised their voices. "Please don't harm our home," they pleaded, "Let us keep our shelter and we'll fill your days with our songs and dances, making your work seem lighter."

But the farmer didn't heed their pleas. He swung his axe, landing one, two, three powerful strokes. As he prepared himself for a fourth strike, he noticed something odd. There, in the hollow of the tree, he found a hidden treasure. It was a hive brimming with sweet, golden honey.

Curious, the farmer tasted the honey, and it was the most delicious thing he had ever had. Astonished, he dropped his axe, no longer wishing to cut down the tree. From that day forward, he treated the tree with great respect, cherishing its hidden gift. He found joy in the unexpected treasure, and the tree stood tall, continuing to house its chirping and hopping inhabitants.

There is a farmer. He has a big apple tree. The tree has many leaves, but no apples. Birds live in the tree. Grasshoppers jump around the tree.

One day, the farmer wants to cut the tree. He takes his axe and walks to the tree. The birds and grasshoppers make noise. "Please do not cut our home," they say. "We will make you happy with our songs and dances."

The farmer does not listen. He hits the tree with his axe. He hits the tree again and again. Suddenly, he sees something. There is honey in the tree.

The farmer tastes the honey. It is very sweet. He likes it very much. The farmer puts down his axe. He decides not to cut the tree.

Now, the farmer takes care of the tree. The birds and grasshoppers stay happy in their home. The farmer is happy too.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who had a big apple tree in his garden. The tree was always full of leaves but never grew any apples. It was a home for sparrows who sang in its branches and grasshoppers who jumped around its base. After many years of seeing the tree without fruit, the farmer decided it was time to cut it down.

He went to his shed, took his sharp axe, and walked to the tree. Just as he lifted his axe to chop the tree at its roots, the sparrows and grasshoppers started to make a lot of noise. "Please don't destroy our home," they begged. "Allow us to stay, and we will make your days joyful with our songs and dances."

However, the farmer ignored their requests and began to chop. He swung the axe down once, twice, three times with great force. As he got ready for another swing, he noticed something strange. Inside a hollow part of the tree, there was a hive full of sweet, golden honey.

Curious, the farmer tasted the honey and found it delicious, better than anything he had ever tasted. Happy and surprised, he put down his axe and decided not to cut down the tree. From that day on, he took care of the tree, grateful for its gift. The tree stayed tall, providing a home for its singing and jumping friends.

Once upon a groovy time, there was this farmer dude who had this huge apple tree in his backyard. Only problem? No apples. Like, ever. Instead, it was just the hangout spot for these hipster sparrows and party-loving grasshoppers. All leaves, no fruit. It's like having a cake with no icing, ya know?

"Alright, that's it! This tree's gotta go!" exclaimed the farmer, with the determination of someone who'd run out of coffee on a Monday morning. He stomped to his shed, grabbed his jazziest axe – it had stickers and everything – and strutted towards the tree, ready to give it the old chop-chop.

But, just as he's about to drop the axe and bust a move, all the sparrows and grasshoppers formed like this flash mob, singing and dancing. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold your horses," they grooved, “If you let us crash here, we promise to serenade you daily with our top hits. Think of us as your personal, chirpy radio station!"

The farmer looked unimpressed, probably because he was more into podcasts. Swinging his axe, he went "One! Two! Three!" But as he was revving up for his fourth and grand finale hit, something caught his eye. Right there, in the tree's hollow, was this jar of...is that...golden syrup? No, wait! It's honey! With all the grace of someone finding hidden candy, he dipped a finger in. "Blimey! That's the bee's knees!" he exclaimed, tasting the sweet nectar. "Who knew this tree was like a secret dessert cafe?"

Dropping his axe, he decided that maybe, just maybe, the tree wasn't so bad after all. From that day on, the farmer and the tree were like besties. The tree got to stay, the birds and bugs had a roof over their heads, and everyone lived happily, humming and hopping ever after.

A tree so tall in a garden stood,
No apples, though the farmer wished it would.
With sparrows chirping, grasshoppers near,
Year after year, its branches were clear.

To the shed, the farmer made his way,
Grabbing his axe, with no delay.
But as he readied to strike the tree's base,
Little voices begged, "Please, give us grace!"

"Save our home," the small creatures cried,
"We'll fill your days with songs amplified."
Yet their pleas, he chose to ignore,
And with his axe, he aimed to score.

One, two, three swings made a mark,
But the fourth was halted by a golden spark.
A hidden hive, full of honey so sweet,
An unexpected treasure, a delicious treat.

Tasting the gold, his anger did cease,
For the tree held a secret, a wondrous peace.
No longer desiring the tree to fall,
He cherished its gift, most of all.

So the tree remained, housing its crew,
With sweet melodies and honey dew.
The farmer, with a lesson so new,
Learned to find treasures where they grew.

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Word Finder

  1. Farmer

    A person who works on a farm.

  2. Axe

    A tool used to cut wood or trees.

  3. Sweet

    Tastes like sugar.

  4. Hits

    Touches something with force.

  5. Grasshoppers

    Insects that jump and make sounds.

  6. Honey

    Sweet food made by bees.

  7. Suddenly

    Happening quickly without warning.

  8. Decides

    Thinks and then makes a choice.

  9. Noise

    Loud sounds that you can hear.

  10. Care

    To keep something safe and healthy.

  1. Farmer

    A person who grows plants and raises animals.

  2. Garden

    A place where plants are grown and cared for.

  3. Branches

    Long parts of a tree where leaves grow.

  4. Decided

    Made a choice after thinking about something.

  5. Sharp

    Very thin edge that cuts easily.

  6. Destroy

    Completely ruin or end something.

  7. Requests

    Asking for something politely or formally.

  8. Force

    Strength or power used to move something.

  9. Strange

    Something that is unusual or unexpected.

  10. Grateful

    Feeling thankful and happy for something.

Understanding Questions

  1. What does the farmer have?

    1. A small dog
    2. A big apple tree
    3. A blue car
    4. A red hat
  2. What lives in the tree?

    1. Cats and dogs
    2. Fish and turtles
    3. Birds and grasshoppers
    4. Cows and sheep
  3. What does the farmer want to do to the tree?

    1. Paint the tree
    2. Move the tree
    3. Cut the tree
    4. Water the tree
  4. What do the birds and grasshoppers promise to do for the farmer?

    1. Give him apples
    2. Sing songs and dance
    3. Build a house
    4. Find more trees
  5. What does the farmer find in the tree?

    1. Apples
    2. Honey
    3. A nest
    4. A flower
  1. Why did the farmer decide to cut down the apple tree?
  2. Who lived in the apple tree and begged the farmer not to destroy it?
  3. What did the farmer find inside the tree that made him change his mind about cutting it down?
  4. How did the farmer feel about the honey he tasted from the tree?
  5. What did the farmer decide to do with the tree after discovering the honey?
  1. Why did the farmer initially decide to cut down the apple tree in his garden?
  2. How did the sparrows and grasshoppers try to persuade the farmer not to cut down the tree?
  3. Describe the farmer's reaction upon discovering the hive filled with honey inside the tree.
  4. What was the ultimate outcome for the apple tree and its inhabitants after the farmer found the honey?
  5. How did the farmer's perception of the apple tree change from the beginning to the end of the story?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the farmer initially wanted to cut down the apple tree?
  2. How did the sparrows and grasshoppers react when the farmer was about to cut the tree, and why?
  3. Can you remember a time when something or someone turned out to be more valuable than you first thought, similar to the farmer's discovery of honey in the tree?
  4. What does this story teach us about the importance of patience and not making hasty decisions?
  5. Can you think of ways we could apply the lessons from this story to our everyday life?

Fable Quotes

The sweetest treasures lie hidden, waiting for those with eyes to see and hearts to appreciate.
In the depths of the unexpected lies a treasure of immeasurable value.
Patience unveils hidden treasures, rewarding those who wait and see beyond what meets the eye.
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