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The Travelers and The Plane-Tree

Townsend version

Two travelers, worn out by the heat of the summer's sun, laid themselves down at noon under the widespreading branches of a Plane-Tree. As they rested under its shade, one of the Travelers said to the other, "What a singularly useless tree is the Plane! It bears no fruit, and is not of the least service to man." The Plane-Tree, interrupting him, said, "You ungrateful fellows! Do you, while receiving benefits from me and resting under my shade, dare to describe me as useless, and unprofitable?'

Moral

Some men underrate their best blessings.

[Plane Tree = Tree of the genus Platanus. One type is found wild between Italy and Iran. In the U.S. the buttonwood or sycamore qualify as a plane tree.]

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