The merchant and the donkey

One beautiful spring morning, a merchant loaded his donkey with bags of salt to go to market to sell it. The merchant and his donkey were walking along together. They had not walked far when they reached the river. As the river bank was very slippery the donkey slipped and fell into the river. The salt from the bags melted in the water. When the donkey got up,it noticed that the bags loaded on its back had become light. There was nothing the merchant could do, except to return home.

The next day, the merchant again loaded his donkey with bags of salt. As they reached the slippery river bank, the donkey thought, “If I fall down in the water, my load will become light.” So it deliberately fell into the river. The merchant realised the donkey’s trick. He then returned home and re-loaded his donkey, this time with bags of sponge. They once again set off on their journey. On reaching the river the donkey again fell into the water. But instead of the load becoming lighter, it become heavier. The merchant laughed at and said, “You foolish donkey! Did you think you were smart and clever? I am cleverer than you.”

R. LAKSHMI, V C, Nellai Nadar MHSS, Chennai