The Empty Pot

The Empty Pot

A long time ago in China, there was a boy named Chen. He lived with his mother in a wooden house in a countryside village. Their house was very small, but their garden was always full of beautiful flowers and other plants. Chen's mother had planted the garden before Chen was born. She taught him everything she knew about gardening.

The emperor of China was a very old man who had no children of his own. He worried about who would become the next emperor and what would happen to his country. He decided to choose the next emperor from among the children of his empire. One day, the emperor announced that the people of China should bring their children to his palace.

The emperor revealed his plan to the crowd that had gathered. He declared, “ I will provide a flower seed to any child who wants one. Take your seed home and plant it in a pot. In a year's time, come back to the palace with your pot, and I will select the next emperor. " Chen lined up with the other children to get a seed. He could hardly contain his excitement.

Chen treated his seed with great care. He carried it home in a silk pouch. He planted the seed in a little clay pot in his garden, covered it with soil, and gave it water. Days passed, but the little seed didn't sprout.

Chen put the seed in a bigger pot made of fine china. He moved the pot to the sunniest corner of the garden. Weeks passed, but the little seed didn't sprout.