The
Man Who Tried to Please Everybody
One fine morning
a farmer went to town to sell his donkey. His son went with him. The farmer led
the donkey, and his son walked beside him. They sang as they walked along.
The farmer and
his son passed some girls on the road. The girls began to laugh at them.
“What is wrong
with your donkey?” asked the girls.
“Nothing,”
replied the farmer. “I am going to sell him in town for a lot of money.”
“You are silly
to walk all the way,” said the girls. “Let your little boy ride.”
The farmer
wanted to please the girls. He lifted his son on to the donkey, and walked on
beside them.
Farther along
the road, the farmer and his son met an old man. The old man shook his stick at
the boy. “What a selfish boy you are,” he cried, “riding the donkey while your
poor father walks.”
To please the
old man, the farmer lifted down his son and got on to the donkey himself. As
they went on their way, the farmer and his son met some women and children. One
of the women pointed to the farmer.
“Look at that
lazy man!” she said. “He rides the donkey and makes his poor little boy walk!”
To please the
woman, the farmer helped his son to get up behind him.
The farmer and
his son ride along together on the donkey. They passed some men.
“Is that your
donkey?” the men asked. “You will kill him if you make him carry a heavy man
and a boy. Why don’t you carry the poor donkey?” The farmer wanted to please
the men. He and his son got off the donkey. They tied his legs together and
slung him on a pole. The poor donkey struggled and kicked.
The farmer and
his son put the ends of the pole on their shoulders. They walked into the town
carrying the donkey.
The people in
the town laughed to see a man and boy carrying a struggling donkey. They ran
along beside the farmer and his son, laughing and shouting.
The poor donkey
was frightened. The farmer and his son were tired and hot. They put down the
donkey. The beast kecked himself free, and galloped away. He fell into the
river and was drowned.
The farmer went
sadly.
“I tried to
please everybody,” he said to his son. “But I have pleased nobody, and I have
lost my donkey.”
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