In great joy he flew to it, but found that it held only
a little water, and even that was too near the bottom to be reached,
for all his stooping and straining. Next he tried to overturn the
pitcher, thinking that he would at least be able to catch some of the
water as it trickled out. But this he was not strong enough to do. In
the end he found some pebbles lying near, and by dropping them one by
one into the pitcher, he managed at last to raise the water up to the
very brim, and thus was able to quench his thirst.
* * * * *
THE MAN, HIS SON, AND HIS ASS
A man and his son were leading their ass to market. A girl, seeing
them, cried, "Why walk when you can ride?" On hearing this, the man
set his son upon the ass.
Going further, they heard an old man say, "Shame for the young to ride
while old people walk!" Thereupon the man made his son get down and
rode himself.
Presently they met some women who cried, "Look at the poor tired son
and lazy father!" Hearing this, the man took his son up beside him and
so they rode into the town.
There a young man called to them, "Two men on one beast! It seems to
me you are more fit to carry the ass than he is to carry you.
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