A Man, A Boy, and a Donkey

Lately, we’ve been looking at some older stories and fables that are seldom heard anymore. I hope you’re enjoying hearing them half as much as I’m enjoying telling them. Today’s story is another of Aesop’s fables and it holds a timeless message. It’s called:

A Man, A Boy, and a Donkey

A man and his son were once going with their donkey to market. As they were walking along by the donkey’s 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.

Soon, they passed a group of men, one of whom said: “See that lazy youngster. He lets his father walk while he rides.” The Man ordered his Boy to get off and he got on himself. But they hadn’t gone far when they passed two women. One of them said to the other, “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.”

The Man didn’t know what to do. Finally, he took his Boy up with him on the donkey but by this time, they had come to the town. The passers-by began to jeer and point. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours with you and your hulking son?” they asked. The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought. At last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey’s feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to the bridge. The donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge and his fore-feet being tied together, he drowned.

“That will teach you,” said an old man who had followed them. “Please all and you will please none.”