The Coal Basket

An old man lived with his little grandson.Every day the old man got up early to read books.

His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to emulate him every  way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa, I want to read just like you do, But I don't understand it, and I always forget when I close the book. What good does reading the book do?"

The grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water."

The boy did as he told to, but all the water leaked out before he got back home.

The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to walk faster nex time."

This time the boy ran faster, but the basket was still empty before he returned home.They boy said," see, Grandpa, it's useless."

"So you think it's useless?" the old man said."Look at the basket."

The booy looked at the basket and for the first time, he reaalized that the basket was different. Instead of a dirty coal basket, it was clean inside and out.

My child, that's what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but the words will change in inside and out. That is the work of reading in our lives.