It was noon on a hot summer day. Two friends, Jack and John, had been walking since early morning when they came to a big tree in the middle of a vast meadow just by the way-side.
The men were feeling very hot and tired. So, they only too pleased to sit down and rest in the shade of large tree. Their destination was still miles away from there - a journey of a few hours.
They unloaded their haversacks and settled down to rest in the cool shade of the tree. Then they took out their lunch-boxes and decided to satisfy their hunger and thirst there itself.
"What kind of tree is this?" Jack asked his friend.
"A plane tree," replied John.
"Ah, a plane tree! Such big leaves, a strong trunk but even then no edible fruit. It is indeed a quote useless tree. What a pity !" Mused Jack.
The plane tree was listening to this conversation carefully, and it felt quite outraged. "What an ungrateful guy !" it fumed.
Unable to control itself, the tree thundered, "Here I am giving you cool shade- a comfortable shelter from the scorching sun- which you cannot find anywhere else around here. And you! Ungrateful wretch! Instead of thanking me for the good I am doing you, are styling me a useless thing. You don't have the sense to appreciate how useful I am to you this time - nay, you have forgotten to thank me even."
