The Hermit Philosopher

There was once a wise man who loved solitude, and dwelt far away from

other men, meditating on the vanities of the world. He spent nearly all

his time in the open air, and he could easily do this, for he lived

in a lovely southern land where there is no winter and but little

rain. As he wandered once among the verdure of his garden, the sage

stopped before an aged walnut tree covered with ripening nuts, and

said: 'Why is there such a strange want of symmetry in nature? Here,

for instance, is a walnut tree a hundred years old, hiding its top

in the clouds, and yet how small is its fruit: itself it grows from

year to year, but its fruit is always of the same size. Now, on the

beds at the foot of the tree there grow great pumpkins and melons on

very small creeping plants. It would be more fitting if the pumpkins

grew on the walnut trees and the walnuts on the pumpkin beds. Why

this want of symmetry in nature?' The sage thought deeply on the

subject, and walked in the garden for a long time, till at last he

felt sleepy. He lay down under the shady walnut tree, and was soon

slumbering peacefully. In a short time, he felt a slight blow on

the face, then a second, and then a third. As he opened his eyes, a

ripe walnut fell on his nose. The sage leaped to his feet, and said:

'Now I understand the secret of nature. If this tree had borne melons

or pumpkins, my head would have been broken. Henceforth let no one

presume to find fault with Providence!'