A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds.
When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its
hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the Reeds bowed low in the
wind and sang a sad and mournful song.
"You have reason to complain," said the Oak. "The slightest
breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your
heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the
howling tempest."
"Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds. "The winds do not
harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all
your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But
the end is coming."
As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The
Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the
yielding Reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at
once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the
pitying Reeds.
_Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist
stubbornly and be destroyed._