A Lesson from the Elder
Grandfather was an elder Cherokee Native American who
had a wrinkled, nut brown face and kind dark eyes. His grandson often came in
the evening to sit on his knee and asked the many questions that children would
ask.
One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a
look of anger on his face and the following story. “Father and I went to the
store today and because I helped him, he bought me a present---a jack-knife. I
went outside to wait for father and to admire my new knife in the sunlight.
Some town boys came by and saw me. They surrounded me and started saying bad
things. They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a
fine knife. The largest of these boys pushed me back and I fell over one of the
other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them picked it up and they all ran
away laughing. I hate them. I hate them all."
The elder Cherokee, with eyes that had seen too much,
lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's face. Grandfather
said, "Let me tell you a story. I, too, at times, have felt a great hate
for those who have taken 
so
much with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down and does not hurt
your enemy. It is like drinking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have
struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if two wolves are inside
me.... It is a terrible fight.
One wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony
with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. It
will only fight when it is right to do so and in the right way. This wolf
stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, modesty, kindness, friendship,
sympathy, generosity, truth, and faith.
The other wolf is full of anger. The least thing will
set off his fiercest temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason.
He cannot think because his anger and hate are so much. It is helpless anger,
for his anger will change nothing. This wolf represents fear, envy, greed,
self-pity, guilt, lies, false pride and superiority.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves
inside me for both of them try to control my spirit. This same fight is going
on inside you and inside every other person too.”
The boy looked into his grandfather's eyes and asked,
"Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied.... "The
one you feed."
1.The boy was angry because __________.
A. he was not satisfied with his present
his back was badly injured in a fight
he had waited for his father for too long
his jack-knife had been taken away by some boys
2.How does the good wolf do things in the story?
A. He never fights against others.
B. He tries to get on well with others.
C. It is hard for him to live with other wolves.
D. Sometimes he had a terrible fight because some one
hit him.
3.We can learn from the third paragraph that
_________.
A. “hate” is healthy
B. “hate”
hurts oneself
C. “hate” is complicated
D. “hate” harms one’s enemies
4.What did Grandfather mean by saying "The one
you feed" in the last paragraph?
A. We should feed the two wolves equally.
B. Living in harmony with others is important.
C. Our feelings should be expressed at the right time.
D. The choices we make determine who we will become.
