Long ago there lived a farmer in a small village in Russia. The farmer had a huge garden in front of his house. In that garden stood an old apple tree. It was very old that served was to provide shelter to the sparrows, grasshoppers and squirrels in the neighbourhood.
One day, the farmer decided to cut the tree down. He felt it had become completely useless. Besides, he wanted to get some furniture made and what better way to ensure the wood supply from the tree? The wood was still strong. So, taking a sharp axe in his hand, the farmer struck at the roots of the tree.
All of a sudden hearing the sound all the many creatures who inhabited the tree came out runningly. The grasshoppers, the sparrows and the squirrels came out of their dwelling places and gathered around the farmer. "Please sir," they begged him. "Spare this tree's life. It is our only home. But the farmer did not pay any attention to them and only struck harder at the roots. "We promise to sing to you in the afternoons when you toil away. It would lighten your labours so," entreated the creatures.
All the animals plight and cries was unable to change the farmers decision. The farmer continued his task with single-minded concentration. He was in a hurry to finish off the chopping by afternoon. As he raised his axe one more time, something in the hollow of the tree caught his eye. A beehive. Upon looking closer, the farmer found that it was full of honey. He tasted the honey. Ummmm, heavenly.
Suddenly the farmer realised that the tree was not so useless after all. Its hollow was the ideal place for a beehive to rest. And if he took away the honey now, the bees would make more. They would certainly not abandon such an attractive residence. "Hey you up there," he announced as he threw away the axe. "I'm sparing the life of this tree. You can live in peace now."
The sparrows, grasshoppers and squirrels breathed deep sighs of relief. What a blessing that the farmer had found something of use to him in the tree! After all, it was the only reason the tree was still standing.
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