55. Aesop's Fables - The Boy and the Filberts

Once there lived a boy named Alec.

One day after returning from school, Alec saw a jar full of hazelnuts (filberts) placed on the table. Alec was tempted and wanted to eat the hazelnuts. So he opened the jar and tried to grab a fistful of them. When he tried to pull out his hand, his hand was stuck.

But the jar neck was narrow. So when Alec tried pulling out the fistful of nuts he failed. He wanted to have as many as could and held fast the nuts. Tied of his attempts, Alec broke into tears. He cried loudly in pity.

When his mother heard him cry, she rushed to ask him. Alec told his mother that he was unable to pull out the fistful of nuts he wanted to eat.

The mother said, 'Alec, drop some nut and pull your hand out. If you want more, you can take these nuts again'.

Alec was enlightened. He dropped some nuts and pulled his hand out. He enjoyed the nuts and took them again when he finished the earlier ones.

Moral: Do not attempt too much at one time.