A Merchant, driving his Donkey homeward from the seashorewith a heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallowford. They had crossed this river many times before without accident, but this time the Donkey slipped and fell when halfwayover. And when the Merchant at last got him to his feet, muchof the salt had melted away.
Delighted to find how much lighter his burden had become, the Donkey finished the journey very happily.Next day the Merchant went for another load of salt. On the way home the Donkey, remembering what had happened at the ford,purposely let himself fall into the water, and again got rid ofmost of his burden.
The angry Merchant immediately turned about and drove theDonkey back to the seashore, where he loaded him with two greatbaskets of sponges. At the ford the Donkey again tumbled over;but when he had scrambled to his feet, it was a very disconsolate Donkey that dragged himself homeward under a load ten timesheavier than before.
The same measures will not suit all circumstances.
