an old man and his little boy were once driving an ass before them to the next market-town, where it was to be sold.

"have you no more wit," said a passerby, "than for you and your son to trudge on foot and let your ass go light?" so the man put his boy on the ass, and they went on again.

"you lazy young rascal!" cried the next person they met; "are you not ashamed to ride and let your poor old father go on foot?" the man then lifted off the boy and got up himself.

two women passed soon after, and one said to the other, "look at that selfish old fellow, riding along while his little son follows after on foot!" the old man thereupon took up the boy behind him.

the next traveller they met asked the old man whether or not the ass was his own. being answered that it was: "no one would think so," said he, "from the way in which you use it. why, you are better able to carry the poor animal than he is to carry both of you."

so the old man tied the ass's legs to a long pole, and he and his son shouldered the pole and staggered along under the weight. in that fashion they entered the town, and their appearance caused so much laughter that the old man, mad with vexation at the result of his endeavours to give satisfaction to everybody, threw the ass into the river and seizing his son by the arm went his way home again.