100.The Donkey and the Mule
A DONKEY and a mule, both well laden, were trudging along the road together. As long as the donkey travelled along the plain, he carried his load with ease. But when he began to walk upwards along the steep path of a mountain, his load became more than he could bear. Therefore he begged his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest. But the mule paid no attention to it. In a short while after that, the donkey fell down dead under his burden.
Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the muleteer placed the donkey’s load on the mule in addition to his own. Finally, at the top of all he put the hide of the donkey after skinning him.
The mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself:
“I brought it on myself. If I had been willing to help the donkey a little in his need, I should not now be bearing his burden and himself.”
❖ It is not just at the start but at the finish that we should judge each other’s condition.
❖ At times a good pause may mark the turn for the better.
❖ The superior man may fall back on his inner worth to escape major difficulties. He may therefore withdraw into seclusion instead of persevering like an overloaded donkey into very bad fortune.
99.The Donkey and the Lapdog
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.******
98.The Donkey and the Horseman
A DONKEY congratulated a horse on being so amply and carefully provided for, while he himself had scarcely enough to eat and not even that without hard work. But when war broke out, a heavily armed soldier mounted the horse; riding him to the charge, he rushed into the very midst of the enemy. The horse was wounded and fell dead on the battlefield. On seeing all these things the donkey changed his mind and pitied the horse.
❖ Full of trust, many domestic animals look up to those who dominate them severely.
97.The Donkey and the Horse
A DONKEY asked a horse to spare him a small portion of his feed.
“Yes,” said the horse; “if anything is left over of what I am now eating, I will give it you for the sake of my own superior dignity. And if you come over when I reach my own stall in the evening, I’ll give you a little sack full of barley.”
The donkey said,
“Thank you. But I can hardly think that you, who refuse me a little matter now, will by and by confer on me a greater benefit.”
❖ The brave man sets out to bring about and even correct his position before he confers food and benefits to others.
❖ Some weak characters can be bought for food, not unlike Jacob’s brother Esau in the Old Testament.
