Story
A Crow, parched with terrible thirst on a hot summer's day, flew about the countryside seeking water. At last, he discovered a large pitcher standing in the yard of a house, and he hastened toward it, hoping to drink. But when he peered into the vessel, he found that the water lay far below the rim, beyond the reach of his beak, no matter how he stretched his neck.
Distressed and despairing, the Crow sat upon the ground and contemplated his predicament. His thirst was great, yet the water seemed as distant as the clouds themselves. He might have abandoned the pitcher in defeat and flown onward, but instead, he remained and considered his situation with patience.
As he sat thus, his eyes fell upon some small pebbles scattered upon the ground nearby. An idea stirred within his mind—what if he were to drop these pebbles into the pitcher? Would they not displace the water and bring it closer to the surface?
With this thought, the Crow began to apply himself to the task. One by one, he picked up the pebbles in his beak and dropped them into the pitcher. Each pebble sank into the water with a soft splash, causing the water level to rise incrementally. The Crow persisted in this labor, working steadily and with purpose.
Yet as he worked, the Crow became aware that other birds, watching his effort, had grown thirsty as well. As the water level rose sufficiently, the Crow paused and considered his companions. Though he had done all the labor necessary to raise the water, he recognized that it was just to share the fruits of his labor with those who had none.
The Crow, practicing the virtue of tithing—the giving away of a portion of what one has earned—allowed the other birds to drink first, taking only a portion for himself. In this act of sharing, he demonstrated that virtue and generosity are as important as effort and industry.
The other birds, seeing the Crow's generosity, felt moved to aid him in the future, and a bond of mutual support was established. The Crow understood that by sharing a portion of what he had gained through labor, he had enriched not only others but the entire community of creatures.