The Peasant and the Axe.
A Moujik, who was building a hut, got vexed with his Axe. The Axe became disagreeable to him; the Moujik waxed wroth. The fact was, he himself hewed abominably; but he lay all the blame on the Axe. Whatever happened, the Moujik found an excuse for scolding it.
"Good-for-nothing creature!" he cries, one day, "from this time forward I will never use you for anything but squaring stakes. Know that, with my cleverness and industry, and my dexterity to boot, I shall get on very well without you, and will cut with a common knife what another wouldn't be able to hew with an axe."
"It is my lot to work at whatever you lay before me," quietly replied the Axe to the angry rebuke, "and so your will, master, is sacred for me. I am ready to serve you in whatever way you please. Only reflect now, that you may not have to repent by-and-bye. You may blunt me on useless labour, if you will; but you will certainly never be able to build huts with a knife."
11—2
