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The
Scribe’s Warning
A great and powerful
empire needed the wood from its western areas to build palaces
and homes forthe emperor and his friends. However, the empire had
depleted many of the
forests. The trees were important to the western areas’
economy. With no trees to sell, the
commerce in that area was
reduced. Citizens could no longer purchase the
goods that they
needed to survive. Their life became difficult.
A poor
scribe from the area wanted to help. He
hitchhiked to the capital to ask the
emperor for
charity. He was invited to the palace. It was large and
cozy. Tables were loaded
with food, and fires burned warmly in every fireplace.
The emperor sat up upon his
throne, and the scribe stood in front of him.
“I’ve come to ask for help,” the scribe said. “We’re all very poor and hungry. You’ve
used up all of the forests, and now we have nothing to sell.”
Then he added a warning. “If we don’t receive help, I’m
afraid that the entire empire will suffer. We must
establish some
unity.”
Upon hearing the scribe’s request, the
emperor’s bad
temper surfaced. He
mocked
the scribe. “You think I should help,” he said
and laughed. “You should just be happy
to belong to this great empire. You will get
nothing from me.”
The emperor felt no
pity for the citizens
of the western area. They were
condemned
to starve. The scribe returned home with
nothing.
Not long after, an enemy invaded the
empire from the west. They were marching
to the capital. Because the citizens felt
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