Foreword:
This fable represents overcoming obstacles with persistence and resourcefulness, and is numbered 390 in the Perry Index (as 390. The Crow and the Pitcher). Also known as 'The Thirsty Crow', this popular crow-and-water fable also relates to ancient observation of real-life corvid behaviour. Its history in antiquity can be tracked through the Middle Ages, and earlier. The Crow and the Pitcher
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In a spell of dry weather, a thirsty crow searched for water.
 
Thirsty crow searches for water
Half-dead with thirst, he flew around in hope of finding some water to drink. And, as he flew over a deserted town, his hope of finding water was revived.
 
"I am sure to find some water in the town", he thought to himself, and flew down towards the town.
 
Since, the town was deserted, he did not find water anywhere and started growing frustrated, as he flew from rooftop to rooftop, tree to tree, house to house.
 
All of a sudden, a pitcher caught his attention.
 
From his experience, he knew that such pitchers are always filled with water to consume. And, he jumped over the pitcher to take a look inside, overjoyed with anticipation.
 
Crow observes jar with some water
As anticipated, there was indeed some water inside the pitcher. But, due to the scorching heat, very little water remained at the bottom of the pitcher.
 
He tried to put his beak into the mouth of the pitcher, but could not reach far enough down to get at it.
 
Hoping to spill some water, he tried to overturn the pitcher, but it was too heavy to do so.
 
Since, this was his last hope of water, he tried and tried everything in his might to reach the water, but failed.
 
Tired and frustrated, the crow thought, "I must be ready to die of thirst", and closed his eyes to surrender to destiny.
 
Crow throws pebble inside jar
Suddenly, he came up with an idea.
 
He quickly opened his eyes, and started looking around for small stones and pebbles.
 
With a sparkle in his eyes, he jumped and flew around for pebbles that he could pick up with his beak. And, he flew back to drop the pebble inside the pitcher.
 
Repeatedly, he continued this task of searching and picking up pebbles, and dropping them in the pitcher of water.
 
And, with new found strength based on the idea that he came up with, in his inventive streak of genius, he proceeded with one last effort to reach the water inside the pitcher.
 
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Crow gets to drink water
And surely, the idea worked!
 
The crow kept dropping the pebbles into the pitcher, and the pebbles, being heavier than water, sank to the bottom. As more and more pebbles were dropped and sunk, the water level inside the pitcher kept rising.
 
It was no mean task, of filling the pitcher with more and more pebbles, but the crow continued the task with dilligence.
 
After some time, as anticipated, the water rose high enough for the crow to wet his beak.
 
Soon enough, with a few more pebbles dropped, the crow could finally drink to his heart's content. And in this manner, the crow successfully quenched his life-threatening thirst for water.
 
 
Moral:
Necessity is the mother of inventions.
Or,
When in a pinch, a good use of our wits may help us out.
 
 
Summary:
A thirsty crow could not find any water, when he saw a pitcher of water. But there was very less water in it, and there was no way that he could reach inside for a drink. He came upon a plan, and started collecting pebbles of stones and dropping them inside the pitcher. The stones, being heavier, sunk below the water - thus, highering the water level. He kept dropping small pebbles of stones till the water level reached to the top of the pitcher, from where he was able to finally drink the water.
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