Hercules and the Wagoner

"Hercules and the Wagoner" is a moralistic short tale by Aesop. The story depicts a wagoner who, when his cart becomes stuck in a muddy ditch, prays to the mighty Hercules for help. Instead of physically assisting, Hercules offers the wisdom that heaven helps those who help themselves. The tale imparts the moral lesson of the importance of self-reliance and industriousness rather than depending on divine intervention.

• Children

								
A Farmer was driving his wagon along a miry country road after a
heavy rain. The horses could hardly drag the load through the
deep mud, and at last came to a standstill when one of the wheels
sank to the hub in a rut.

The farmer climbed down from his seat and stood beside the wagon
looking at it but without making the least effort to get it out
of the rut. All he did was to curse his bad luck and call loudly
on Hercules to come to his aid. Then, it is said, Hercules really
did appear, saying:

"Put your shoulder to the wheel, man, and urge on your horses. Do
you think you can move the wagon by simply looking at it and
whining about it? Hercules will not help unless you make some
effort to help yourself."

And when the farmer put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on
the horses, the wagon moved very readily, and soon the Farmer was
riding along in great content and with a good lesson learned.

Self help is the best help.

Heaven helps those who help themselves.
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