The Donkey Loaded with Salt
Once there was a merchant and his hard-working donkey. One day the merchant bought a lot of salt for the market. He loaded the heavy salt sacks onto the donkey and they left. The day was hot, so the journey was long and tiring. Halfway along the road they came to a deep, cool river. In the river the donkey slipped and fell into the water.
He waited a little, stood up and felt his back grow light. The donkey was very happy, because the salt melted in the water. The next day the clever merchant loaded light sponges instead of salt. At the river the sly donkey decided to try the same trick. "If I fall again, my load will be light," he thought. On purpose he let himself drop into the cool river water.
But this time the sponges did not melt and drank the water. The sponges got wet and the load became much heavier. With great trouble the donkey came out and sank under the weight. The donkey was sorry for his trick and understood his mistake. Not every easy road ends well, and cleverness sometimes brings harm. The best plans at home often fail in the market.