[Illustration: THE OLD MAN AND HIS SONS.]
An Old Man had many Sons, who were often falling out with one another.
When the Father had exerted his authority, and used other means in order
to reconcile them, and all to no purpose, at last he had recourse to
this expedient: he ordered his Sons to be called before him, and a short
bundle of sticks to be brought; and then commanded them, one by one, to
try if, with all their might and strength, they could any of them break
it. They all tried, but to no purpose; for the sticks being closely and
compactly bound up together, it was impossible for the force of man to
do it. After this the Father ordered the bundle to be untied, and gave a
single stick to each of his Sons; at the same time bidding him try to
break it: which, when each did with all imaginable ease, the Father
addressed himself to them to this effect--'O my Sons, behold the power
of unity! For if you, in like manner, would but keep yourselves strictly
conjoined in the bonds of friendship, it would not be in the power of
any mortal to hurt you; but when once the ties of brotherly affection
are dissolved, how soon do you fall to pieces, and are liable to be
violated by every injurious hand that assaults you!'