79. The Father and His Two Daughters



A MAN had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the other to a tile-maker.

After a time he went to the daughter who had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all things went with her.

She said, "All things are prospering with me, and I have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of rain, in order that the plants may be well watered."

Not long after, he went to the daughter who had married the tilemaker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, "I want for nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather may continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might be dried."

He said to her, "If your sister wishes for rain, and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join my wishes?'





80. The Farmer and His Sons



A FATHER, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his sons would give the same attention to his farm as he himself had given it.

He called them to his bedside and said, "My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards."

The sons, after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefully dug over every portion of their land.

They found no treasure, but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and superabundant crop.





81. The Crab and Its Mother



A CRAB said to her son, "Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? It is far more becoming to go straight forward."

The young Crab replied: "Quite true, dear Mother; and if you will show me the straight way, I will promise to walk in it."

The Mother tried in vain, and submitted without remonstrance to the reproof of her child.



Example is more powerful than precept.
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