Aesop’s Fables¹

The Crow and the Pitcher²

A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak³ 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 pebble⁴ 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 pebbles⁵ he was able to quench⁶ his thirst and save his life.

Little by little does the trick.