One day, Horace,
a very stingy
farmer, was
riding his horse
down a dusty
road around his
neighbourhood as
he watched the
scenery and the
farms that he
passed by.
Discouraged, he
was thinking of
changing
industries. His
fed up wife had
gone to the city
looking for a
better life. The
farm yielded
nothing; all
they planted
would dry up for
lack of water or
die because of
pests, producing
nothing.
The horse went
by slowly.
Suddenly he
stopped,
surprised.
Around a corner,
he saw a
different
landscape; at
the entrance of
a farm, there
was a beautiful
gate painted
white, and two
rows of
beautiful
flowering trees
that went far in
the distance,
creating shade
and peace.
The farmer felt
like surveying
the property. He
dismounted from
his horse and
approached the
gate, thinking
it was closed.
He was
surprised
there
was no
chain or
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padlock.
He
opened
it and
went in,
already
thinking
about
the
excuse
he would
give the
owner.
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However, after
walking down the
row of trees he
found a
well-built
house, which
should be the
main building of
the farm. He
clapped his
hands. Soon a
man appeared
with smily face
and invited him
to come in.
Horace
apologised:
- Forgive me for
invading your
property. I'm
Horace, a
landowner near
here and I am
marvelled with
your farm! I
could not resist
and walked in.
The owner
reached out his
hand to greet
him and said:
- Nice to meet
you, Horace. I'm
Manoel. If you
want to see it,
I have some free
time and I will
gladly show you
around!
The visitor
accepted
gratefully and
off they went.
Everywhere
Horace could see
the man's
helping hand.
When they
reached the
plantation, with
amazement he saw
the grown crop,
already
beginning to
produce, and
said:
- What a beauty
plantation,
Manoel!
Certainly you do
not lack water.
There on my farm
we have no water
and the plants
die while still
sprouting!
- I understand.
Here too it was
like that!... I
had to do
irrigation
because the
springs were far
from here. To do
that, I got an
artesian well
which helps a
lot when it does
not rain.
Channeling water
from the well,
the water
problem is over.
In addition, our
headquarter also
benefited
because now we
have plenty of
water.
- Ah... But what
about the pests?
On my farm,
there are pests
and diseases in
the plants and I
end up losing
the crops. I am
discouraged!...
Do you also have
that problem
here?
- Yes! In such
cases, you need
to apply
products that
help controlling
the pests. It is
best to search
in the city for
someone who
understands the
problem and
could help to
exterminate the
pests.
- But this
requires a lot
of money! Also,
I would need to
hire people! -
exclaimed
Horace,
frightened by
the costs that
he would have.
Manoel had a
good laugh and
replied:
- Horace,
without spending
you do nothing!
Often there are
natural
resources that
cost little. The
crop needs care
that only
attention and
dedication will
help in getting
the plants to
grow and produce
well. The soil,
my friend, is a
good and devoted
companion, but
must be treated
with care and
attention to
bear fruits.
- Manoel, I have
always worked on
the farm and
never needed
these things
that you use!
- But you also
never had good
production and
profit on your
land, right?
- Well... It's
true that I have
had plenty of
loss... I could
never reap good
amounts and the
produce is
always lean and
ugly.
Manoel put his
hand on his
friends shoulder
and pondered:
- Yeah! It is
just that to
receive, Horace,
we must first
learn to give of
ourselves.
Remember this,
my friend. The
land is generous
but needs to be
handled with
care. If we put
love in
everything we
do, we will be
rewarded. Think
about it! If you
want, I can help
you with my
experience.
Horace bowed his
head
thoughtfully,
and, taking off
his hat, agreed
with his friend.
Before he left,
Manoel murmured
softly:
- Forgive me for
saying this,
Horace, but we
have to think of
others, even
animals. Look!
You have spent
hours here in my
farm but didn’t
even remember to
give water to
your horse who
brought you here
with so much
dedication.
Embarrassed,
Horace blushed
and replied:
- You're right.
I will think
about everything
you said. Thank
you, friend!
And mounting on
his horse, he
decided to live
a different life
from that day
forward. Not
only in relation
to the farm, so
unkempt, but
also about his
wife who had
gone to the city
because she
could not stand
the kind of life
he had given her
so far. He
decided he would
ask for her
forgiveness and
bring her back
with great love.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
02.05.2016.)
