The Straight Furrow
Children's Story
Sam was the envy of all his friends. His dad was a farmer, so he drove a tractor. On rare occasions Sam was allowed to sit in the tractor cab and even help drive.
Sam's dad was entering a ploughing competition, so he was spending quite a lot of time in the tractor practising ploughing in straight lines.
Privately, Sam thought it something of a waste of time. He couldn't see why it mattered whether or not furrows were straight. He'd just like to sit in the tractor and drive, without bothering about keeping a straight line. Any way, it was difficult enough just to drive the tractor, let alone drive it straight.
When the momentous day of the ploughing competition came, Sam found he was as excited as anybody. It was a really great day out, with lots to see and do. Sam liked the animals best. He especially enjoyed stroking the soft wool of the sheep, and he wished his dad kept sheep instead of having an arable farm which only grew boring cereals. And Sam loved wandering round all the stalls, watching the woodturner and the blacksmith at work, and buying little knick-knacks here and there with his pocket money.
He enjoyed the competitions too. Before the ploughing competition there were sheepdog trials, the heavy horses, and all sorts of riding and jumping competitions in a Gymkhana.
At last the time of the ploughing competition arrived, and Sam found his heart beating fast for his father. Some of the entrants were awful, but some very good, with hardly a wavy furrow among them. Even so, Sam knew his father was best of all. Sure enough, Sam's dad drove a perfect furrow, straight and true, and he won the Cup.
Sam thought he might burst, he was so proud and excited. "I knew you'd do it, Dad," he told his father.
"Ah," said his dad. "But do you know why?"
Sam frowned, then shrugged. "Because you were best, that's why," he answered.
His dad smiled, and shook his head. "No, there were lots of others who were just as good as I was. I won because I believed in what I was doing, and that gave me the edge."
"How do you mean?" asked Sam.
"I believe it's essential to drive a straight furrow," explained his dad. "You see, a straight furrow gives the seeds the best possible chance to grow. They're spaced out properly. As soon as you get a wrinkle in the furrow, the seeds get bunched up and can't grow so well. I'm an arable farmer, and I need my seeds to grow well so that they produce a good crop for harvest. I haven't been practising driving my tractor just to win this competition, I've been practising because I need that skill on the farm. So remember, Sam, whatever you're doing in life always drive a straight furrow if you want to produce good growth."
And Sam did remember, all his life.
Sam's dad was entering a ploughing competition, so he was spending quite a lot of time in the tractor practising ploughing in straight lines.
Privately, Sam thought it something of a waste of time. He couldn't see why it mattered whether or not furrows were straight. He'd just like to sit in the tractor and drive, without bothering about keeping a straight line. Any way, it was difficult enough just to drive the tractor, let alone drive it straight.
When the momentous day of the ploughing competition came, Sam found he was as excited as anybody. It was a really great day out, with lots to see and do. Sam liked the animals best. He especially enjoyed stroking the soft wool of the sheep, and he wished his dad kept sheep instead of having an arable farm which only grew boring cereals. And Sam loved wandering round all the stalls, watching the woodturner and the blacksmith at work, and buying little knick-knacks here and there with his pocket money.
He enjoyed the competitions too. Before the ploughing competition there were sheepdog trials, the heavy horses, and all sorts of riding and jumping competitions in a Gymkhana.
At last the time of the ploughing competition arrived, and Sam found his heart beating fast for his father. Some of the entrants were awful, but some very good, with hardly a wavy furrow among them. Even so, Sam knew his father was best of all. Sure enough, Sam's dad drove a perfect furrow, straight and true, and he won the Cup.
Sam thought he might burst, he was so proud and excited. "I knew you'd do it, Dad," he told his father.
"Ah," said his dad. "But do you know why?"
Sam frowned, then shrugged. "Because you were best, that's why," he answered.
His dad smiled, and shook his head. "No, there were lots of others who were just as good as I was. I won because I believed in what I was doing, and that gave me the edge."
"How do you mean?" asked Sam.
"I believe it's essential to drive a straight furrow," explained his dad. "You see, a straight furrow gives the seeds the best possible chance to grow. They're spaced out properly. As soon as you get a wrinkle in the furrow, the seeds get bunched up and can't grow so well. I'm an arable farmer, and I need my seeds to grow well so that they produce a good crop for harvest. I haven't been practising driving my tractor just to win this competition, I've been practising because I need that skill on the farm. So remember, Sam, whatever you're doing in life always drive a straight furrow if you want to produce good growth."
And Sam did remember, all his life.
