There were many plants in a forest. When spring came, a pine tree saw a red rose nearby and said, "What a beautiful flower! I wish I were that lovely."
The rose proudly said, "It seems that I am the most beautiful flower in this forest." Then the rose looked at a cactus (仙人掌) and said, "Look at that ugly plant full of thorns (刺)!"
"What a proud flower!" thought the pine tree.
As the days passed, the red rose often looked at the cactus and said bad words about it, like "This plant is useless. How sorry I am to be his neighbor!"
The cactus never got angry and even tried to advise the rose, saying, "Everything has its value."
Spring passed, and the weather became very hot. As there was no rain, the red rose began to wilt (枯萎).
One day the rose saw birds put their beaks (喙) into the cactus and then fly away. The red rose asked the pine tree what the birds were doing. The pine tree explained that the birds were getting water from the cactus.
"The cactus has water?" asked the rose.
"Yes, you can also drink some from it. The birds can bring water to you if you ask the cactus for help."
The red rose felt too ashamed to ask for water from the cactus. But finally it did ask for help. The cactus kindly agreed.
The rose learned a lesson and never judged (评价) anyone by his/her appearance again.
