A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher1 which had

　　once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak2 into the

　　mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left

　　in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it.

　　He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair.

　　Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble3 and dropped it

　　into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into

　　the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into

　　the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into

　　the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into

　　the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into

　　the Pitcher. At last, at last, he saw the water mount up near

　　him, and after casting in a few more pebbles4 he was able to quench

　　his thirst and save his life.

　　Little by little does the trick.