The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey

A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to

market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman

passed them and said: ‘You fools, what is a Donkey for

but to ride upon?’

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went

on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of

whom said: ‘See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk

while he rides.’

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself.

But they hadn’t gone far when they passed two women, one

of whom said to the other: ‘Shame on that lazy lout to let his

poor little son trudge along.’

Well, the Man didn’t know what to do, but at last he took

his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they

had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and

point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were

scoffing at. The men said: ‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourself

for overloading that poor donkey of yoursu and your hulking

son?’

The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do.

They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a

pole, tied the donkey’s feet to it, and raised the pole and the