The Salt Merchant's Donkey

Art: Irene D'Cruz, 75, India

There was once a salt merchant.

Every day, the merchant purchased salt from the salt pans, loaded it on his donkey’s back, and sold it in his own town.

There was a stream between the salt pans and the town.

One day, while bringing salt to the town, the donkey stumbled and fell in the stream. Some of the salt dissolved into the water. When the donkey got up, the load on his back was much lighter.

"Wow" said the donkey to himself "there is some magic in this water. It makes my load lighter. I must do this everyday."

So every day after that, while returning from the salt pan, the donkey purposely stumbled in the stream to make his load lighter.

The salt merchant soon noticed this.

"Hmm..." said the merchant to himself, "I must teach this lazy donkey a lesson."

Next day, the merchant purchased bales of cotton instead of salt and loaded them on his donkey’s back.

When the donkey came to the stream, he purposely stumbled in the stream. He thought that his load will become lighter. But when he tried to get up, he couldn’t. The cotton had absorbed water and become heavier. 

"Help!" said the donkey "seems like the water has lost its magic spell. This load is so heavy. I think it will break my back."

The merchant pulled the donkey out of the stream and walked him to the town with the heavy load.

The donkey learned his lesson and never stumbled in the stream again.

(Retold)