THE ASS AND THE LAMB.
An ass once lay down in a shed that he might shirk his work, and make known to those who were near what toil was put on him. All the beasts, great and small, came to lend him help. At the same time a poor meek lamb lay at the point of death from want, but none came to give her their aid. “How is it,” said she, “that I lie here in so much need of care, whilst the ass gets all this help?” A fox, who heard her, said, “The ass knows well that the loud bray which he gives by way of thanks, makes the kind acts of his friends well known, and so it swells their pride to help him.”
A good deed may spring from a bad source.