The Dog in the Manger

A dog wandered into the barn and curled up for a comfortable nap in the cow's manger full of dry hay, warm and soft.

When the cow came back hungry and wanted to eat the hay, the dog growled and snapped at her, refusing to let her near — even though he didn't eat a single bite of the hay himself.

The cow pleaded, "You don't even eat hay — why won't you let me have some?" But the dog just lay there stubbornly, refusing to budge.

Weak with hunger, the cow mooed loudly for the farmer to come help. The farmer arrived and saw the whole scene with growing displeasure.

The farmer scooped the dog straight out of the manger and scolded him, "You're being far too selfish — if you don't need something, let others have it." The dog was chased out of the barn in shame.

Don't guard something you don't even need, just to keep others from having it.