Aesop Fables-The Bundle Of Sticks (Episode 172)

Aesop's fables are a group of stories thought to have been written by Aesop, a Greek Storyteller. Each Aesop story demonstrates a moral lesson. Today's story - 'The Bundle Of Sticks' is a story that teaches us that we must work together.

Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/the-bundle-of-sticks

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

Once upon a time, a very old man lived on a beautiful and comfortable farm in the country. From his window, he could see pasture land, barns filled with animals, fields of grain, orchards and forests beyond. The farm was special to the old man as it had been in his family for many generations. He had lived there his whole life and raised his family. Now his wife was dead, and he, too, was in the last days of his life.

The old man lay on his bed worrying about his grown children. The children could not seem to get along. The old man heard them quarrelling day and night. Even though the children were good at what they each did, such as farming, working with the animals, carpentry, cooking or preserving the food they grew, each child thought their job was the most important and that the other one didn’t work hard enough. They were all grown up, but they held grudges against each other, and they were jealous of each other’s fortune.

Children, what is one thing that you like about a sibling or a friend?

That’s great. Let’s listen ahead..

The old man tried talking to his children about living in peace, but they seemed to grow increasingly bitter day after day. He felt sure that they would not be able to keep the family farm after he had died because the sons could not seem to work together or appreciate each other’s hard work.

Then one day, as his strength waned, the old man had an idea. He called his children to his bedside.

“I have one last favour to ask of you,” he said, “I want each one of you to go to the jungle and find two sticks. Bring them here to me tomorrow, and I will explain further.”

The children did as their father asked and came to his room the next day with two sticks each.

“Thank you, my children,” the old man said.

“Please see if you can break one of your sticks in half,” asked the old man.

All the children easily broke their sticks in half.

Then the old man asked the children to pass him their second sticks.

Children, what do you think the father would do with all the sticks?

Let’s find out.

Then the old man collected the sticks in a bundle, passed it back to his children, and said, “Pass this bundle of sticks amongst you and try to break the bundle as it was the single stick?”

The children passed the bundle around, but not even one of them could break the bundle of sticks.

“You, my children, are like these sticks,” the old man said.

“If you go your separate ways and quarrelling, you will each be alone like the individual sticks and will face the difficulties of life alone. But if you be together, work together, appreciate one another’s strengths, cherish what you have in common, and above all, care for each other, you will be powerful like a bundle of sticks, and nothing in life can make you weak or break you. My children, try to find strength and joy in each other’s company, and you will live well and succeed in life,” the old man explained.

The children took their father’s lesson to heart, focusing on what they shared in common, appreciating one another’s strengths, and working together. The old man died peacefully, and the farm remained in the family for generations to come.

In unity is strength

Aesop Fables-The Bundle Of Sticks (Episode 172)

Story Prism

Where can you listen?

Episodes