“Now I will praise you. You roared splendidly.”
And since that time the Ass is always braying, and always expects to be praised.
VII
The Fool and His Knife
A fool had an excellent knife.
With this knife the fool tried to cut a nail. The knife would not cut the nail. Then the fool said:—
“My knife is mean,” and he tried to cut some soft kisel jelly with his knife. Wherever the knife went through the jelly the liquid closed together again.
The fool said, “Miserable knife! it won’t cut kisel , either,” and he threw away his good knife.
VIII
The Boy Driver
A peasant was returning from market with his son Vanka. The peasant went to sleep in his cart, and Vanka held the reins and cracked the whip. They happened to meet another team. Vanka shouted:—
“Turn out to the right! I shall run over you!”
And the peasant with the team said:—
“It is not a big cricket, but it chirps so as to be heard!”