Grown Up

A young lord is having a new palace built. He is dressed in multicoloured silks which are the fashion at this time, high heels that make him totter on his feet, and wears an enormous hat. His little daughter follows him about the work site, shouting at the workers, complaining and holding a handkerchief to his face to ward off the dust. Finally they tour the grounds, where a gardener is about to plant a spruce tree. "I don't want that there, I want it planted over here!" yells the lord. The gardener says, "With all respect, Sir, if I do that, the tree will die."

"So what!" screams the lord, red in his face, "Do as I say or I will have you beaten till you cry for mercy!"

The gardener stands up straight in his simple work clothes. He is a powerful man, strong and steady. Calmly he says, "You can beat me all you like, it won't stop the tree from dying if you plant it there."

The lord stares at him for a while, then drops his eyes and stalks off across the grass. His little daughter looks at the gardener and thinks, "When I grow up, I want to be like you."