![](lost1.gif)
1. Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices
of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the territory of
the nortern tribes.
| ![](lost2.gif)
2. Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be
a blessing," said his father.
|
![](lost3.gif)
3. After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the
north.
| ![](lost4.gif)
4. Everyone congratulated him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a
cause of misfortune," said his father.
|
![](lost5.gif)
5. Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of
riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse.
| ![](lost6.gif)
6. Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be
a blessing," said his father.
|
![](lost7.gif)
7. One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border
regions. All able-bodies young men took up arms and found against the
invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of men died.
| ![](lost8.gif)
8. This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and
so both the boy and his father survived.
|