The Oldman and His Grandson
There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth.
His son and his son’s wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of tears.
Once, too, his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and broke. The young daughter in law scolded him, but he said nothing and only sighed. Then they brought him a wooden bowl for a few half-pence, out of which he had to eat.
They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. ‘What are you doing there?’ asked the father. ‘I am making a little trough,’ answered the child, ‘for father and mother to eat out of when I am big.’
The young man and his wife were very surprised to hear this answer. The realized their mistakes and cry bitter tears. The young man and his wife begged his father for forgiveness. The young wife then led the old man to the best seat at the dining table and there he would sit until the end of his time.
Title : The Story Of The Oldman and His Grandson
Description : The Oldman and His Grandson There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, an...