Once upon a time two brothers who lived on
adjoining farms,fell into conflict.
It was the first serious rift in 40 years of
farming side by side,sharing machinery, and
trading labor and goods as needed without a
hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart.
It began with a small misunderstanding and
it grew into a major difference,and finally
it exploded into an exchange of bitter
words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's
door. He opened it to find a man with a
carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a
few days work" he said.
"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs
here and there I could help with?

"Yes," said the older brother."I do have
a job for you. Look across the creek at that
farm. That's my neighbor; in fact, it's
my younger brother.
Last week there was a meadow between us,
and he took his bulldozer to the river
levee, and now there is a creek between us.
Well, he may have done this to spite me, but
I'll do him one better.
See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want
you to build me a fence, an 8-foot fence so
I won't need to see his place or his
face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand
the situation. Show me the nails and the '
posthole digger and I'll be able to do a
job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he
helped the carpenter get the materials ready,
and then he was off for the day. The
carpenter worked hard all that day measuring,
sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the
carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's
eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.
There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from
one side of the creek to the other! A fine
piece of work handrails and all...and the
neighbor, hisyounger brother, was coming across,
his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge
after all I've said and done."The two brothers
stood at each end of the bridge, and then they
met in the middle, taking each other's hand,
then embracing each other.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his
toolbox on his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of
other projects for you," said the older
brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said,
"but I have many more bridges to build."