The load was not very heavy, but the donkey said to himself, "I will make it still lighter."
When he came to the stream, he lay down again in the water. He started to rise, but to his surprise he could hardly get up.
"What can be the matter?" he thought.
His master, laughing, said, "Have you learned your lesson, old fellow? We shall see."
He drove the groaning donkey slowly back to the city, took the sponges from his back, and loaded him again with salt.
When the donkey came again to the stream, he picked his way carefully, for he did not wish to fall. This time he got across safely, and the grocer arrived at home with his entire load of salt.
THE THREE FISH
Three large fish lived very happily in a pond which few people ever passed.
One of these fish was always wise, the second was wise sometimes, but the third was never wise.