THE North Wind and the Sun once fell into
a dispute as to which was the stronger
of
the two. They related their most famous
ex-
ploits, and each ended as he began, by think-
ing he had the greater power.
Just then a traveler
came in sight, and
they agreed to test the matter
by trying to
see which of them could soonest
get of the
cloak he wore wrapped around him.
The boastful North Wind
was the first to
try. He blew a most furious blast, and nearly
tore the cloak from its fastenings at his first
attempt; but the man only held his cloak
the
more closely, and old Boreas spent his strength
in vain.
Mortified by his failure
to do so simple a
thing, he at last withdrew.
Then came the kindly Sun,
dispelling the
clouds that had gathered, and
sending his
warmest rays straight down upon the travel-
er's head.
Growing faint with sudden
heat, the men
quickly flung aside his cloak, and hastened for
protection to the nearest shade.
Persuasion is often better
than force.
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