One hot, summer’s day, a Crow was searching for water to quench his thirst. He searched and searched, and was almost dying of his thirst when he came across a pitcher. He excitedly hopped towards the pitcher but was dismayed when he found it was almost empty. There was a small amount of water at the bottom of the pitcher, but the crow’s beak could not reach it. In vain, the crow tried and tried to drink the water, and almost gave up.

Then the crow had an idea; he collected a pebble and dropped it into the pitcher. He scooped up another pebble and put it into the pitcher. One by one, he gathered pebbles and dropped them into the pitcher. He emptied more and more pebbles into the pitcher, and slowly the water rose up towards him.

Eventually, when the pitcher was almost full of small pebbles, the water had risen far enough for him to take a long and satisfying drink. Thus, the crow had saved himself by the knowledge that his efforts, little by little, will do the trick.