Fable
The Miller, His Son, and The Ass
One day, a long time ago, an old Miller and
his son were on their way to market with an Ass which they hoped to sell. They
drove him very slowly, for they thought they would have a better chance to sell
him if they kept him in good condition. As they walked along the highway some
travelers laughed loudly at them.
"What
foolishness," cried one, "to walk when they might as well ride. The
most stupid of the three is not the one you would expect it to be."
The
Miller did not like to be laughed at, so he told his son to climb up and ride.
They
had gone a little farther along the road, when three merchants passed by.
"Oho,
what have we here?" they cried. "Respect old age, young man! Get
down, and let the old man ride."
Though the Miller was not tired, he made the boy get down and climbed up himself to ride, just to please the Merchants.
At
the next turnstile they overtook some women carrying market baskets loaded with
vegetables and other things to sell.
"Look
at the old fool," exclaimed one of them. "Perched on the Ass, while
that poor boy has to walk."
The
Miller felt a bit vexed, but to be agreeable he told the Boy to climb up behind
him.
They
had no sooner started out again than a loud shout went up from another company
of people on the road.
"What
a crime," cried one, "to load up a poor dumb beast like that! They
look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to carry them."
"They must be on their way to sell the poor thing's hide," said another.
The
Miller and his son quickly scrambled down, and a short time later, the market
place was thrown into an uproar as the two came along carrying the Donkey slung
from a pole. A great crowd of people ran out to get a closer look at the
strange sight.
The
Ass did not dislike being carried, but so many people came up to point at him
and laugh and shout, that he began to kick and bray, and then, just as they
were crossing a bridge, the ropes that held him gave way, and down he tumbled
into the river.
The
poor Miller now set out sadly for home. By trying to please everybody, he had
pleased nobody, and lost his Ass besides.
Moral
-
If you try to please all, you please none.
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