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A Pedlar who owned an Ass one day bought a quantity of salt, and

loaded up his beast with as much as he could bear. On the way

home the Ass stumbled as he was crossing a stream and fell into

the water. The salt got thoroughly wetted and much of it melted

and drained away, so that, when he got on his legs again, the Ass

found his load had become much less heavy. His master, however,

drove him back to town and bought more salt, which he added to

what remained in the panniers, and started out again. No sooner

had they reached a stream than the Ass lay down in it, and rose,

as before, with a much lighter load. But his master detected the

trick, and turning back once more, bought a large number of

sponges, and piled them on the back of the Ass. When they came to

the stream the Ass again lay down: but this time, as the sponges

soaked up large quantities of water, he found, when he got up on

his legs, that he had a bigger burden to carry than ever.

You may play a good card once too often.