As usual, a Merchant was driving his Ass homeward from the seashore with a heavy load of salt on the Ass's back. They came to a river crossed by a shallow place in the river, where they crossed daily without an accident. However, by accident on this day, the Ass slipped and fell into the stream. By the time the Merchant got the Ass to his feet, much of the salt had melted away in the stream water. Delighted to find how much lighter his burden had become, the Ass finished the journey very gayly.
The next day the Merchant went for another load of salt. On the way back home, the Ass, remembering what had happened at the stream crossing the day before, 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 Cotton. At the stream crossing, the Ass again tumbled over; but when he had scrambled to his feet, it was a miserable Ass. The weight on his back had increased many folds. The Ass dragged himself homeward under a load ten times heavier than before.
Moral: The same measures will not suit all circumstances.
Stories Retold:- Original Source:- Unknown
