Two Pots, one of brass and the other of clay, stood together on
the hearthstone. One day the Brass Pot proposed to the Earthen
Pot that they go out into the world together. But the Earthen Pot
excused himself, saying that it would be wiser for him to stay in
the corner by the fire.
"It would take so little to break me," he said. "You know how
fragile I am. The least shock is sure to shatter me!"
"Don't let that keep you at home," urged the Brass Pot. "I shall
take very good care of you. If we should happen to meet anything
hard I will step between and save you."
So the Earthen Pot at last consented, and the two set out side by
side, jolting along on three stubby legs first to this side, then
to that, and bumping into each other at every step.
The Earthen Pot could not survive that sort of companionship very
long. They had not gone ten paces before the Earthen Pot cracked,
and at the next jolt he flew into a thousand pieces.
_Equals make the best friends._