FAT AND LEAN.
A STRONG fat ox stood with his eyes half shut, chewing the cud, while his driver heaped up a heavy load of stone on the cart he was yoked to.
A neighbor, who chanced to be riding by on a fast but very lean horse, stopped to speak to the man. The horse, on being held in, began to paw the ground, as if impatient to go on, then, looking around scornfully at the ox, said:
“What do you stand there chewing the cud for now?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” asked the ox. “What harm does it do?”
“When I’m in harness,” replied the horse, “I like to work, and not go to sleep.”
“I have to do my share of work,” said the ox; “there’s no doubt about that. If you’ll wait till I get the word, you’ll see how I pull. When I come to a heavy hill, I stop chewing the cud; but as soon as I come to a level place, I begin again. For even while I’m at work I take all the comfort I can.”
“‘Comfort’!” exclaimed the horse. “Is that your aim? Mine is to pass every other team on the road.”
“Ah, well!” said the ox, “that sounds very fine,
But just look at your ribs, and then look at mine!”
He who cannot be happy as long as he sees another more fortunate or successful than himself, whatever else he may gain, will never know peace and content.