The bat, the bramble, and the gull went into partnership with one another, meaning to devote themselves to trade. Accordingly the bat borrowed money to put into the common fund; the bramble took cloth with her; and the third partner, the gull, bought copper; then they set sail. But a violent storm having arisen, the ship capsized, and the whole cargo was lost; they saved only themselves. So ever since that time, the gull is always on the lookout along the shores, to see whether the sea will throw up its copper somewhere; the bat, fearing her creditors, does not show herself by day and only comes out to feed at night; and the bramble catches at the clothes of passers-by, trying to recognise its cloth.
We always come back to the things in which we have a stake.
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