I’m designed to suck up rivers, but when the giant ordered me to “suck up the sea,” I did my best. I drank till I nearly burst.

Then, after all my efforts, the sea just filled in again. It was clear to me that the giant would never catch what he was after. But he’d never admit his limits.

As for me, I didn’t mind saying. “Sorry, pal, I resign!”

The River-Sucker in The Mastermaid, Blue Fairy Book. Picture by Edward Lear.