| | The Elephant and the Donkey
Once upon the time, an elephant and a donkey were out wandering near a river. They were good friends that hunted together and explored together. As they walked along the bank of the river, they could see on the other side of the river's edge - in the bushes there a grove of wonderful fruits to delight donkey's desires and elephant's excitement.
The river was too deep, of course for the animals to cross separately. So donkey said to the elephant, "let me ride on your back across the river. I can grab on to your big elephant ears as we ford the river, and I can stay dry."
To which elephant replied... "I don't think so, donkey. If anyone should see me helping you across the river like this, others will expect the same from me. I will carry you half the way, and the other half, you will carry me."
"That's ridiculous," said the donkey. "There's no way I could ever hold your weight on my frail legs, let alone breathe while under water. It would put me at great risk and great pain. Why would you want to do that to your friend?"
"I need to know I can trust you," said the elephant. "That you're not just using me for the fact that I am tall and can help you cross rivers. I am charitable only to those who deserve it, to those who show me charity in reciprocity. How do I know that you're not just taking advantage of me, and the opportunities I create for you?"
The donkey sat for a moment on a rock and thought for a moment. "I would be happy to reciprocate" said the donkey. "But my charity would never be able to equal yours. Your charity is grand, and all you have to do is lift a finger. Any small offering that I could muster in return would come at great pain to myself. Do you not see that your charity to me is a positive sum and my charity to you is a negative sum?"
"I get great value from helping others." The elephant snorted. "But my charity cannot be infinite. It should not be anticipated by everyone less fortunate than me."
The elephant walked over to donkey and patted him on the head. "There is very little I need from you, Donkey, and much you need from me. It follows then that I decide who deserves my charity, and I choose to base my decision on your willingness to sacrifice in kind for my benefit. This allows me to measure your loyalty. I do not wish to be charitable to disloyal people."
With that, the elephant climbed across the Donkey's back. Donkey held his breath and waded his frail legs into the water. About halfway through crossing the river, a cracking sound was heard and donkey screamed out in pain. Elephant climbed off, picked up donkey with his trunk and held him above the water the rest of the way across the river.
Later, the elephant helped donkey set his broken leg. They gorged themselves on the berries and fruits and wonderful delights the grove had to offer.
-TBF- |
| | Posted 7/15/2008 10:45 PM - 74 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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