aesop's fables

"❁ the master and the servant

the owner of a black servant
was persuaded that the color of his skin arose from dirt
contracted through the neglect
of his former masters.
after bringing the servant home,
the owner resorted to every means of cleaning
in order to rid him of his dark skin,
and subjected the man to incessant scrubbings.
the servant did catch a severe cold
from the icy water,
but he never changed his color or complexion.

what's bred in the bone will stick to the flesh.