Part 4 (1/2)
XXIII.
A stone which had lain for centuries in a hidden place complained to Allah that remaining so long in one position was productive of cramps.
”If thou wouldst be pleased,” it said, ”to let me take a little exercise now and then, my health would be the better for it.”
So it was granted permission to make a short excursion, and at once began rolling out into the open desert. It had not proceeded far before an ostrich, who was pensively eating a keg of nails, left his repast, dashed at the stone, and gobbled it up.
This narration teaches the folly of contentment: if the ostrich had been content with his nails he would never have eaten the stone.
XXIV.
A man carrying a sack of corn up a high ladder propped against a wall, had nearly reached the top, when a powerful hog pa.s.sing that way leant against the bottom to scratch its hide.
”I wish,” said the man, speaking down the ladder, ”you would make that operation as brief as possible; and when I come down I will reward you by rearing a fresh ladder especially for you.”
”This one is quite good enough for a hog,” was the reply; ”but I am curious to know if you will keep your promise, so I'll just amuse myself until you come down.”
And taking the bottom rung in his mouth, he moved off, away from the wall. A moment later he had all the loose corn he could garner, but he never got that other ladder.
MORAL.--An ace and four kings is as good a hand as one can hold in draw-poker.
XXV.
A young c.o.c.k and a hen were speaking of the size of eggs. Said the c.o.c.k:
”I once laid an egg--”
”Oh, you did!” interrupted the hen, with a derisive cackle. ”Pray how did you manage it?”
The c.o.c.k felt injured in his self-esteem, and, turning his back upon the hen, addressed himself to a brood of young chickens.
”I once laid an egg--”
The chickens chirped incredulously, and pa.s.sed on. The insulted bird reddened in the wattles with indignation, and strutting up to the patriarch of the entire barn-yard, repeated his a.s.sertion. The patriarch nodded gravely, as if the feat were an every-day affair, and the other continued:
”I once laid an egg alongside a water-melon, and compared the two. The vegetable was considerably the larger.”
This fable is intended to show the absurdity of hearing all a man has to say.