Story 24. Growing Lesson
Mr. Worth liked spending time with his grandson, Sean.
He enjoyed teaching him some of the things he may not be taught in school.
Grandfathers have a special relationship with their grandchildren.
They can often pass down some wisdom from their own childhoods that will be helpful for the younger generation.
One day, while he was visiting, the boy came running into the house.
He told his grandfather about a class science project that he was very excited about.
Each student was going to grow a pot of bean plants.
When the plants grew big, the students were to plant them in a garden at the school.
They each wanted to grow the strongest and best bean plant.
Sean showed his grandfather the bean seeds.
He explained that his teacher taught them how to make the seeds grow.
First, they put the seeds on a wet paper towel.
Then they put them near a warm window.
When the seeds sprout, they are ready to be transplanted into a pot.
After listening to his grandson, Mr. Worth said, You do just as you learned.
But I want to show you one extra thing about growing plants.
When I was a boy, my father showed me how to grow strong plants.
He continued.
When the plant is starting out, you put some weight on it.
Sean looked at his grandfather in disbelief.
Doesn't the weight stop the bean growing?
He asked.
No, of course not.
In this way, you will force the bean plants to be strong and healthy.
If you give it everything it wants, it will grow too fast, and it will be weak.
It will fall over when the first big wind blows.
Sean listened carefully.
He was eager to grow the bean in the way grandfather described.
He could hardly wait to tell his friends what he had learned that day.
