The Ass and the Load of Salt
A Merchant, driving his Ass
homeward from the seashore with
a heavy load of salt, came to a
river crossed by a shallow ford.
They had crossed this river many
times before without accident, but
this time the Ass slipped and fell
when halfway over. And when
the Merchant at last got him to
his feet, much of the salt had
melted away. Delighted to find
how much lighter his burden had
become, the Ass finished the
journey very gayly.
Next day the Merchant went
for another load of salt. On the
way home the Ass, remembering
what had happened at the ford,
purposely let himself fall into the
water, and again got rid of most
of his burden.
The angry Merchant immediately turned about and drove
the Ass back to the seashore,
where he loaded him with two
great baskets of sponges. At the
ford the Ass again tumbled over;
but when he had scrambled to
his feet, it was a very disconsolate Ass that dragged himself
homeward under a load ten
times heavier than before.
The same measures will not suit all circumstances.
![[Illustration]](http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/gold/books/winter/aesop/winter_aesop_zpage037.gif)
The Ass and the Load of Salt
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