A MAN had a donkey and a pretty Maltese lapdog. The donkey was left in a stable where there was plenty of oats and hay to eat. But the lapdog was fondled by the master and allowed to play with him. And when the man dined out, he would bring back titbits and throw them to the dog when it came running and rushing and wagging his tail.

The donkey on the other hand, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often groaned over his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the lapdog, till one day he broke his cords and halter and galloped into his master’s house. Frisking around his master, he kept kicking up his heels without measure. He also tried to jump about his master as he had seen the lapdog do, but broke the table and smashed the dishes on it. Then he tried to lick his master, and jumped on his back.******

The servants heard these things and noticed their master was endangered. They quickly helped him and drove out the donkey to his stable with kicks and clubs tied him up in the manger again.

As the donkey returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, he moaned:

“I have brought it all on myself – It should have been enough for me to toil with my companions and not wish to emulate the little lapdog!”

❖ Keeping very still will not always be a cause for serious regret.

❖ Not to venture beyond our situation when it is good, may at times be the best alternative.

❖ Frisking about could ultimately lead to ruin and its remorse.