The Dog and His Reflection

 Author: Aesop

 

Once there was a happy, little dog who loved to roam around the town in search of food. One day, the butcher noticed the dog and decided to throw him a juicy bone. The dog barked joyfully and grabbed the bone with excitement.

As the dog trotted along, he couldn't help but feel proud of his newfound treasure. He thought it was the biggest bone he had ever seen. But as he approached a narrow footbridge, he caught sight of his reflection in the calm water below. The dog's eyes widened with surprise.

"Wow! Look at that dog over there! He's carrying a bone much larger than mine!" exclaimed the dog.

The reflection continued to mimic the dog's every move, unknowingly stoking his greed and envy. Without thinking of the consequences, the dog dropped his bone and leaped towards the water, trying to snatch the other dog's bone.

Splash! The dog found himself struggling to swim back to shore, desperately fighting against the current. His bone had disappeared, and all he could think about was survival.

Finally, the dog managed to reach the safety of the shore. He stood there, wet and sad, regretting his foolish actions.

"I was so foolish to be greedy," he mumbled to himself. "If only I had been content with what I   had, I wouldn't have lost everything."

The dog took a solemn lesson from his experience. He would always remember that greed is a curse, and being content with what one has is a true virtue.