Fable: The Man and the Satyr

A Man had lost his way in a wood one bitter winter’s night. As he was roaming about, a Satyr came up to him, and finding that he had lost his way, promised to give him lodging for the night.

[1] Illustrations by Ron Alpert

As he went along to the Satyr’s cell, the Man raised both his hands to his mouth and kept on blowing at them.

“What do you do that for?” said the Satyr.

“My hands are numb with the cold,” said the Man, “and my breath warms them.”

After this they arrived at the Satyr’s home, and soon the Satyr put a smoking dish of porridge before him. But when the Man raised his spoon to his mouth, he began blowing upon it.

“And what do you do that for?” said the Satyr.

“The porridge is too hot, and my breath will cool it.”

“Out you go,” said the Satyr. “I will have nothing to do with a man who can blow hot and cold with the same breath.”

Post Script: One can only wonder what the Satyr would have thought of the Thermos!?