15
0A long time ago, an old mare and her colt lived in a barn
"Child, you've grown up," said the old mare
"Can you help your mother with something"
"I can, Mother," said the colt
"I'd be glad to help you"
"Good child," she said
"Then take this half sack of wheat to the mill"
"No problem, Mother"
The colt loaded the wheat on his back and trotted off to the mill
He ran and ran, and then a little river blocked his way
The water rushed and splashed
The colt stood still, not sure what to do
"Can I get across," he wondered
"Is the water deep or shallow"
"If only Mother were here," he thought
"She would know what to say"
But Mother was far away
The colt looked around, hoping someone could help him
Not far from the river, an old ox was grazing on the hillside
"I've got an idea," he said
The old ox was eating grass, slow and easy, when he heard hooves go tap tap tap
"Hello, Uncle Ox," said the colt
"I have a question for you"
"Well, it's the little colt," said the ox
"Go ahead and ask"
"Please tell me, can I wade across this river"
"This river is shallow," said the ox
"It only comes up to your shins"
"You can wade across"
"Really," said the colt
"Trust me," said the ox
"I graze on the other side all the time"
"Thank you, Uncle Ox"
"Don't mention it"
The colt went back to the river and stepped toward the water
"Colt, don't cross," cried a voice
"Colt, don't cross, the water will drown you"
"Is it deep," asked the colt
"Very deep," said Little Squirrel
"Yesterday a friend of mine fell in and drowned"
"Oh no," said the colt
"That's terrible"
"Remember," said Little Squirrel
"Never go into that river"
"But I have to deliver this wheat," said the colt
"What am I going to do"
"I can't help you," said Little Squirrel
"Go home and ask your mother"
"Thank you, Little Squirrel," said the colt
He flicked his tail and ran home
From far away, the old mare saw her colt coming back with the wheat still on his back
"Why are you home," she asked
"A river is in my way," said the colt
"I can't get across"
"Isn't that river shallow," she asked
"Uncle Ox said so too," said the colt
"But Little Squirrel says it's deep"
"He says his friend drowned in it"
"So is the water deep or shallow," asked the old mare
"Did you think carefully about what they told you"
"No," said the colt
"Child," she said
"Listening to others is not enough"
"You have to think for yourself"
"And you have to try"
"Deep or shallow, you'll know when you try"
"Yes, Mother," said the colt
"I understand"
The colt turned and ran back to the river
He stood at the water's edge and lifted one front hoof
Just then, a little brown shape popped up in front of him
It was Little Squirrel
"What are you doing," he said
"I told you it's dangerous"
"Why are you going into the river again"
"Let me try," said the colt
He stepped in slowly and waded across
The water was not as shallow as Uncle Ox had said
And it was not as deep as Little Squirrel had said
On the grass on the other side, the colt felt pleased with himself
Some things you just have to be brave and try for yourself
