The North Wind and the Sun

One cold January morning, the North Wind and the Sun were arguing high above a mountain road. "I'm stronger than you," said the Wind. "I can break trees and push ships across the sea. I'm the strongest thing in the sky!" The Sun only smiled.

"Let's see," said the Sun. "Look at that traveler down there." A man was walking slowly up the road. He was wearing a long brown coat, the warmest coat in his village. "Whoever takes that coat off him is the winner," said the Sun. "You can go first."

The Wind filled his cheeks and blew. Leaves flew off the trees, and dust flew into the man's eyes. But the man only held his coat closer. The Wind blew harder and colder. The man fastened every button and pulled up his collar.

Now the Wind was angry. He blew his hardest, the worst wind of the whole winter, and snow came down from the mountain. But the harder the Wind blew, the tighter the man held his coat. At last, the Wind was too tired to blow. "It's impossible," he said.

Then it was the Sun's turn. The Sun didn't shout or push. He came out from behind a cloud and shone gently on the road. The air got a little warmer, and the man undid the top button. The Sun shone a little brighter, and the man opened his coat.

The road got warmer and warmer. The man stopped, wiped his face, and took off his heavy coat. He put it over his arm, walked to a big tree by the road, and sat down in its cool shade. High above him, the Wind said nothing at all.