The Farmer and His Sons

by Aesop

A FATHER being on the point of death, wished to be sure from his sons the same attention to his farm as he had himself given it. He called them to his bedside and said: My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards. The sons, after his death, took their spades and mattocks, and carefully dug over every portion of their land. They found no treasure, but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and superabundant crop.