This is a classic Chinese story in Chinese primary school

reading textbook. And it is also an idiom for many a little makes a mickle.

A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which

had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its

beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only

very little water was left in it, and that he could not

reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he

tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then an

idea came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it

into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped

it into the Pitcher. Then another one, another...... At

last, he saw the water gradually mount up near him, and

after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench

his thirst and save his life.