A MILLER and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to
sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women
collected round a well, talking and laughing. “Look there,” cried one
of them, “did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road
on foot when they might ride?” The old man hearing this, quickly made
his son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side.
Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate.
“There,” said one of them, “it proves what I was a-saying. What respect
is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding
while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and
let the old man rest his weary limbs.” Upon this the old man made his
son dismount, and got up himself. In this manner they had not proceeded
far when they met a company of women and children: “Why, you lazy old
fellow,” cried several tongues at once, “how can you ride upon the
beast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the
side of you?” The good-natured Miller immediately took up his son
behind him. They had now almost reached the town. “Pray, honest
friend,” said a citizen, “is that Ass your own?” “Yes,” replied the old
man. “O, one would not have thought so,” said the other, “by the way
you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor
beast than he you.” “Anything to please you,” said the old man; “we can
but try.” So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass
together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on their
shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town. This
entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at it, till
the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling that he was
subject to, broke the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole,
fell into the river. Upon this, the old man, vexed and ashamed, made
the best of his way home again, convinced that by endeavoring to please
everybody he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass in the bargain.