| Once upon a time long ago, a fine young sapling grew deep
in the woods among a glade of grand old growth timber.
One day, the sapling turned toward a great old fir tree that stood nearby.
Looking way way up at the fir and speaking with a voice just as loud as
his youth could muster, the sapling inquired politely of his wise old neighbor:
"Mr. Douglas, you are very old and very wise. You must have known my
father . I would like ever so much to know, am I the son of a birch or
the son of a beech?"
The noble conifer thought for some while,
rubbing his branches together in the light breeze as he contemplated how
best to answer his little friend.
Finally, the kindly old fir bowed down and
responded, "Friend Sapling, I never had the pleasure to meet your father.
So, it saddens me to tell you that I do not know whether you are the son
of a birch or the son of a beech. But of this I am sure: Your mother
was one of the finest pieces of ash in the whole forest!"
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