The North Wind and the Sun

High in the bright blue sky, the North Wind and the Sun were talking. They were old neighbors. Sometimes they were friendly. Sometimes they liked to brag.

“I am the strongest,” whooshed the North Wind. He puffed out his cold cheeks.

“I am stronger,” said the Sun with a warm smile. His golden light glowed softly.

They looked down and saw a traveler walking along a road. The traveler wore a big, warm cloak. It wrapped around him like a blanket.

“Let’s have a test,” said the Sun. “Whoever can make the traveler take off his cloak is the strongest.”

“Ha! Easy,” roared the North Wind. “I will go first.”

The North Wind gathered a deep breath. He blew and blew. Whoooo! The trees bent. Leaves danced in the air. Dust swirled around the road.

The traveler shivered. “Brr!” he said. He pulled his cloak tight around his shoulders. He held the edges close under his chin.

The North Wind blew harder. WHOOSH! He sent a wild gust down the road. The traveler’s hat almost flew away. The traveler grabbed it and held on. He wrapped his cloak even tighter and tied it in a knot.

“I must keep warm,” the traveler said through chattering teeth. He hunched his shoulders and kept walking.

The North Wind tried one more time. He blew his biggest, strongest blast. But the harder he blew, the tighter the traveler held his cloak. At last the North Wind had no breath left. He huffed and puffed and gave up.

“It is your turn,” he grumbled to the Sun.

The Sun peeked from behind a little cloud. He sent down a gentle, quiet warmth. It felt like a soft hug.

The traveler felt the change at once. “Ahh,” he sighed. He loosened the knot of his cloak. He let a bit of warm air in.

The Sun shone a little brighter. The fields glimmered. The stones on the road warmed under the traveler’s feet. A bird sang.

Soon the traveler smiled. He wiped his brow. “It’s getting warm,” he said. He opened his cloak. The Sun shone warmly—kind and steady, not too hot.

At last the traveler slipped off his cloak. He folded it over his arm, happy and comfortable, and walked on down the sunny road.

The Sun turned to the North Wind. “You see,” he said softly, “gentle warmth can do what force cannot.”

The North Wind nodded, quiet now. He had learned something new.

And the traveler, who knew nothing about their little test, went on his way, light and cheerful in the golden day.

Moral: Gentle kindness and warm persuasion work better than cold force.