Page 18 - Moral Stories Vol 1

not paid enough for the release of his friend and threatened that, unless a match to that pearl was obtained for him, he would catch the peacock again. The tortoise, who had already advised his friend to go away to a distant jungle on being set free, was greatly enraged at the greed of this man.
“Well,” Said the tortoise, “if you insist on having another pearl like it, give it to me and I will fish you out an exact match for it.” The stupidity of the bird- catcher prevented him from reasoning that “one in the hand was equal to two in the bed of the stream,” and he quickly gave the pearl to the wily tortoise. The tortoise immediately swam out with it saying, “I am no fool to take one and give two!” and disappeared with it leaving the bird-catcher sorry for his covetousness.
Moral: Covetousness does not succeed. Be happy with what you have.
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