Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/130

108 'What have you to complain about?Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who passes by, and don't they in return tear down my branches to feed their cattle?Don't whimperbe a man!'

Then the Brâhman, sad at heart went farther afield till he saw a buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude!Look at me!While I gave milk they fed me on cotton- seed and oil-cake,

but now I am dry yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!'

The Brâhman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.

'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything else!Here am, I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!'

On this the Brâhman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a jackal, who called out, 'Why,