The Miller and the Donkey

listening to today is The Miller and the Donkey and is being read to you by Daniel One day, a long time ago, an old Miller and his Son were on their way to market with a donkey they hoped to sell. They drove him very slowly, for they thought they would have a better chance to sell him if he was healthy and not exhausted by the time they got to market. As they walked along the highway some travelers laughed loudly at them. "What foolishness," cried one, "to walk when they might as well ride. It’s not every day when a donkey is the smartest of the batch." The Miller did not like to be laughed at, so he told his son to climb up and ride the donkey. 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 walked by some women carrying market baskets loaded with vegetables and other things to sell. "Lookee here now at this old man acting like a prince," exclaimed one of them. "Perched on the donkey, while that poor boy has to walk." The Miller felt a bit vexed, but to be agreeable he told his son to climb up behind him and ride the donkey as well. 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 donkey like that! They look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to carry them." 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 donkey was actually having a good deal of fun being carried around (it felt much better than walking), 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 the Miller and his son were crossing a bridge, the ropes that held him gave way, and down he tumbled into the river with a great big splash. He floated far away downstream out of sight. The poor Miller now set out sadly for home. By trying to please everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his donkey besides. The donkey, however, was having an amazing time. After floating downstream for several miles, he was found by a kind rancher, and he could eat delectable carrots and apples anytime he wanted. And the lesson for today’s story is: You can’t please everyone. The End