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A Horse, who had been used to carry his rider into battle, felt

himself growing old and chose to work in a mill instead. He now

no longer found himself stepping out proudly to the beating of

the drums, but was compelled to slave away all day grinding the

corn. Bewailing his hard lot, he said one day to the Miller, "Ah

me! I was once a splendid war-horse, gaily caparisoned, and

attended by a groom whose sole duty was to see to my wants. How

different is my present condition! I wish I had never given up

the battlefield for the mill." The Miller replied with asperity,

"It's no use your regretting the past. Fortune has many ups and

downs: you must just take them as they come."

THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL