align="center">A TALE FROM INDIA



Once upon a time an elephant and a monkey had a quarrel.

The elephant was proud because he was so strong. "Look how big and strong I am!" he said. "I can pull a tree down, can you?"

Now the monkey was proud because he was so quick. "Look how fast I can run and climb!" he said. "Can you climb a tree?"

At last they went to a wise old owl. "We cannot agree," they said. Tell us what you think about it. Which is betterto be strong, or to be quick?"

The owl said to them, "Do just as I tell you, and then I shall find out which is better. Do you see that great fruit tree across the river? Go and pick the fruit and bring it to me."

So the elephant and the monkey went to the river, but the water was swift and the monkey was afraid.

"Got on my back," said the elephant proudly." I shall carry you. I am big and strong, and I am not afraid to swim across a swift river."

Soon they got to the other bank. There stood the tree. It was so tall that the fruit hung high above them.

The elephant tried to break the tree down, gut it was too strong. He tried to reach the fruit with his trunk, but it was too high.

"Wait a minute, I can climb," said the monkey proudly. He ran quickly up the tree, and threw the rich, ripe fruit to the ground. The elephant put it in his big mouth.

Then they crossed the river again, and gave the owl some of the fruit they had picked. "Now," they said, "which is better-to be strong, or to be quick?"

"Can anyone tell which is better?" asked the owl. "Neither of you could get the fruit alone. It took both the elephant's strength and the monkey's quickness to get it."


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