The North Wind and the Sun had a quarrel about which of them was
the stronger. While they were disputing with much heat and
bluster, a Traveler passed along the road wrapped in a cloak.
"Let us agree," said the Sun, "that he is the stronger who can
strip that Traveler of his cloak."
"Very well," growled the North Wind, and at once sent a cold,
howling blast against the Traveler.
With the first gust of wind the ends of the cloak whipped about
the Traveler's body. But he immediately wrapped it closely around
him, and the harder the Wind blew, the tighter he held it to him.
The North Wind tore angrily at the cloak, but all his efforts
were in vain.
Then the Sun began to shine. At first his beams were gentle, and
in the pleasant warmth after the bitter cold of the North Wind,
the Traveler unfastened his cloak and let it hang loosely from
his shoulders. The Sun's rays grew warmer and warmer. The man
took off his cap and mopped his brow. At last he became so heated
that he pulled off his cloak, and, to escape the blazing
sunshine, threw himself down in the welcome shade of a tree by
the roadside.
_Gentleness and kind persuasion win where force and bluster
fail._
[Illustration]
[Illustration]