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A certain man had several Sons who were always quarrelling with

one another, and, try as he might, he could not get them to live

together in harmony. So he determined to convince them of their

folly by the following means. Bidding them fetch a bundle of

sticks, he invited each in turn to break it across his knee. All

tried and all failed: and then he undid the bundle, and handed

them the sticks one by one, when they had no difficulty at all in

breaking them. "There, my boys," said he, "united you will be

more than a match for your enemies: but if you quarrel and

separate, your weakness will put you at the mercy of those who

attack you."

Union is strength.

THE LAMP