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79. THE DONKEY
A certain king who had come to the throne in the prime of his youth considered youthfulness as the most desirable quality, the only beautiful asset that one could have, youth being the only period in life which is capable of facing any kind of problem. So he admitted only young men in his administration and as his friends and advisers and he scrupulously kept all old people out.
Once he was leading his army when he came to a forest. They necessarily had to camp there where unfortunately there was acute shortage of water and before long every one complained of terrible thirst. The young king inspite of his youthful ingenuity did not know how to sort out this problem. Some one in his immediate circle of friends suggested the help of some old man's mature judgment and advised the king to send out his men to look for some old man. The king agreed and made a proclamation with the usual drum beats that the king was looking out for an old man. A young man heard this proclamation. He was very fond of his father, who was quite nearby but who was keeping himself hidden because of the king's known allergy to old men. The young man approached the king and told him of his father who would be too glad to be of whatever service to the king. The king invited the old man to his presence and when he came there, the king addressed him with great respect which quite surprised every one around. Nevertheless the king continued to speak with the old man with great deference and asked him how exactly to overcome the problem of water shortage in the camp.
The old man had a ready solution and he quickly suggested
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