Fables for the Fair/Fable 21
THE WOMAN WHO COULD NOT HELP HERSELF
THE WOMAN WHO COULD NOT HELP HERSELF
THERE was once a Woman who had Never Learned how to Swim, although she Went in Bathing every day in the Summer. She had a Friend who had Acquired this Art with Some Trouble, and was very Proud of her Proficiency in it.
"It is Absurd," said this Friend, "to Live Near the Water and Not Swim. It Makes you very Attractive to Good Swimmers if you can Go Out with them, and they do Not Feel that you are a Drag on their Pleasures. What would you Do in Case you Fell off the Pier? Now, Watch me!"
With these words she Dived off into the Water and Swam about By Herself.
"It is a Good Thing to have a Woman Swim so Well," said one of the Men near by. "Now, if Any of the Children Fall Into the Water, She can Rescue them."
Just then the Woman who Could Not help Herself uttered a Scream and Fell into the Sea. Instantly Five Men leaped in to Rescue Her, and Spent the Rest of the Day Resuscitating her and Inquiring How she Was, leaving the Swimmer to Dive by Herself.
This teaches us that Nothing Succeeds like Distress.