Saturday, May 21, 2011

The Tree

A carpenter was hired to help restore an old farmhouse. After he had just finished a rough first day on the job, during which a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and his ancient pickup truck refused to start. 

While driving him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he issued an invitation to his employer to meet his family. As they walked towards the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked his employer to the car. They passed the tree and his employer's curiosity got the better of him. He asked him about what he had seen him do earlier.
"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

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