The Parable of the Pear Tree

Once upon a time, there was a man who had four sons.  He wanted each of them to learn how to judge things carefully, so he sent each of his sons on a quest to observe a pear tree in a distant land.  He sent his eldest son in Winter, the second in Spring, the third in Summer, and the youngest in Autumn.

Upon their return, he called them all together and asked them what they had seen.  The first son reported that the tree was twisted and ugly, and of no possible use.  The second son disagreed, stating that the tree was covered in green buds, and full of promise.  The third son argued that the tree was covered with fragrant blooms, and was beautiful indeed.  The fourth son refuted all other accounts by observing that the tree was full of ripe, delicious fruit.