Once there was a tree with a wide trunk and countless branches. It was located in the middle of dry land and was used as a place of shelter and rest for hundreds and thousands of travelers. Since it was near four cities and many villages, the tree’s location became an ideal meeting point for travelers.
One day, two travelers arrived at the tree after walking for a long time. They were heading to one of the towns near the tree. Their travel day was hot and sunny, so they felt happy about the existence of this tree in this place so they could rest for some time. Then they fell asleep under the tree, enjoying the wonderful weather and the cool air.
After a while, one of the travelers felt hungry. Neither of them had any food. The hungry traveler looked at the tree to see if it bore fruit he could eat, but he didn’t find anything edible on the tree. This made him feel angry, and he cursed that tree that bore no fruit.
The hungry traveler said about the tree: “Oh, it’s just a useless tree. It doesn’t bear fruit or even nuts. It’s a tree with no use at all.” When the other traveler felt his anger, he tried to calm him down, asking him to settle down. But he continued his bad talk about the tree.
The tree couldn’t bear the bad words the hungry traveler was saying about it, so it said in a sad but strong voice: “You cannot deny my favor upon you, oh traveler. Just thinking about your condition when you arrived here with the hot, burning sun makes you know my favor. I offered you a comfortable and wonderful place to sleep and rest with cool, beautiful air.”
Then the tree continued its speech: “If I weren’t here, you would be dead now. I saved your life from the burning sun rays, but now you insult me and say I’m useless.” At that time, the traveler who had insulted the tree felt the extent of his mistake toward it, which made him offer her an apology and know her great benefit.
The story is translated from English under the title: The Tree and the Travellers