The Ox and the Frog

An ox was drinking at a pool when it accidentally trod on a brood of young frogs, crushing one of them to death. When the mother frog arrived and noticed that one of her sons was missing, she asked his brothers what had happened to him.

"He is dead, dear Mother," they replied. "Just now, a very huge beast with four great feet came to the pool and crushed him to death with its cloven heel."

Determined to understand the size of the creature, the mother frog puffed herself out and asked, "Was the beast really that large?"

"Cease, Mother, to puff yourself out," said her son gently. "Do not be angry, for I assure you that you would sooner burst than successfully imitate the hugeness of that monster."