The Mourning Brothers

Observing that he was nearing death, an old man called his two sons to his bedside to explain his final wishes. "My children," he said, "you have not shown me much respect during my life, but you will express your sorrow for my death in your own way. To the one who wears a weed upon his hat the longest in memory of me shall go my entire fortune. I have made a will to that effect."

After the old man passed away, each of the sons placed a weed on their hats and wore them as a sign of mourning. Time went by, and as they both grew older, neither son was willing to give in and remove the weeds from their hats. Eventually, they reached an agreement: the younger son would take off his weed, and the elder would then receive half of the estate.

However, when the elder son went to claim his share of the inheritance, he discovered that there had been an executor appointed to manage the estate. In the end, both hypocrisy and obstinacy were fittingly punished, leaving the brothers to reflect on their actions and the true meaning of respect and mourning.