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."

Then they got down, tied the beast's legs to a pole, and carried him
thus till they came to a bridge. As they went, the children shouted so
loudly that the ass took fright--kicked his legs free, and jumped over
the bridge into the river.

Thus having lost his ass, the man went home, crying, "Try to please
everybody and you will please nobody, not even yourself!"

* * * * *

FABLES OF INDIA

ADAPTED BY P. V. RAMASWAMI RAJU

* * * * *

THE CAMEL AND THE PIG

A camel said, "Nothing like being tall! See how tall I am." A pig who
heard these words said, "Nothing like being short; see how short I
am!"

The camel said, "Well, if I fail to prove the truth of what I said, I
will give you my hump."

The pig said, "If I fail to prove the truth of what I have said, I
will give up my snout."

"Agreed!" said the camel.

"Just so!" said the pig.

They came to a garden inclosed by a low wall without any opening. The
camel stood on this side the wall, and, reaching the plants within
by means of his long neck, made a breakfast on them. Then he turned
jeeringly to the pig, who had been standing at the bottom of the wall,
without even having a look at the good things in the garden, and said,
"Now, would you be tall or