"I shall have to sell that donkey of ours," said a miller to his
son. "I can not afford to keep him through the winter. I will take
him to town this very morning to see if I can find a buyer. You
may go with me." In a little while the miller, his son, and the
donkey were on their way to town.
They had not gone far when they met some girls going to a party.
They were talking and laughing as they went along. One of them
said, "Look at that man and boy driving a donkey. One of them
surely might ride."
The miller heard what they said, and quickly made his you mount
the donkey, while he walked along at its side.
After a while they came to a group of old men who were talking
very earnestly. "There," said one, "I was just saying that boys
and girls have no respect for the aged. You see it is true in this
case. See that boy riding while his old father has to walk."
"Get down, my son," said his father, "and I will ride." So they
went on.
They next met some women coming from town. "Why!" they cried,
"your poor little boy is nearly tired out. How can you ride and
make him walk?" So the miller made his son ride on the donkey
behind him.
They were now in town. A man coming down the street called to the
miller, "Why do you make your donkey carry such a load? You can
carry him better than he can carry you."
At this the miller and his son got off the donkey. They tied the
donkey's legs together, turned him over on his back; and began to
carry him.
A crowd soon gathered to see the strange sight. As they were
crossing a bridge the donkey became frightened at the hooting of
the crowd. He broke loose, fell into the river, and was drowned.
The miller was angry and ashamed. He said, "There! I have tried to
please everybody and have only made a fool of myself. After this I
shall do as I think best and let people say what they will."