30 PLEASING EVERYBODY

Once an old man and his little boy were taking a small donkey to the next town, where they wanted to sell it. They walked along the road together and drove the donkey before them.

On the way they met a man who said to them, “How foolish you are! Surely that donkey is stronger than you are. Why does not one of you get on his back and ride? Riding is easier than walking.”

So the old man put the boy on the donkey's back, and they went on again.

Soon they met another man. “You lazy boy! ”he cried, “Are you not ashamed to ride, and let your poor old father go along the road on foot? ”

So the old man told the little boy to get off and walk.Then the old man got on the donkey's back, and they went on again, toward the town.

Then two women came along. One of them said, “Look at that selfish old man. He rides, and makes his poor little boy walk. There is room enough on the donkey's back for both the old man and the little boy.”So the old man told the boy to sit on the donkey's back behind him, and they rode along together.

Soon they met another man, who asked them, “Is that your own donkey? ”

“It is, ”answered the old man.

“I should not think so, ”said the man, “If it is your donkey, why do you give it such a heavy load? You two are better able to carry that poor little donkey than he is to carry you.”

So the old man and the little boy got off the donkey and tied its legs to a pole. Then they put the pole over their shoulders, and in this way carried the donkey.

The load was so very heavy that they had to walk slowly.

By and by they reached the town. “Ho, ho! ho, ho, ho! ”laughed every one they met. “What a funny sight! Who ever saw a man and a boy carrying a donkey? Ho, ho, ho! ”

The old man became very angry. He put the donkey down, untied him, and threw away the pole.

“Now I shall do just what I thought best at first, ”he said to the little boy, “You and I will walk, and we will drive the donkey before us.”

He who tries to please everybody pleases nobody.

(Retold from a Fable by Æsop)

Word list

pleasing: making people happy

donkey: a farm animal similar to a horse

ashamed: feeling bad and guilty about oneself

pole: a very long stick

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Why were the old man and the little boy taking the donkey to the next town?

2) Why did the old man keep listening to everyone about who should ride the donkey?

3) How were the old man and the little boy able to carry the donkey?

4) What lesson did the old man probably learn?

5) Why is it not a good idea to try to please everyone?

B) Opposites—Find the opposites to these words in the reading.

1) wise: f _ _ _ _ _ _

2) run: w _ _ _

3) generous: s _ _ _ _ _ _

4) light: h _ _ _ _

5) in front: b _ _ _ _ _

C) True or false? Read these sentences carefully. Write true or false for each one.

1) _____ The old man was foolish to listen to everyone.

2) _____ The donkey was not strong enough to carry the old man and the little boy.

3) _____ The old man and the little boy carried the donkey.

4) _____ Some people laughed at the old man and the little boy.

5) _____ The donkey became angry at the old man and the little boy.