Once a Donkey (whose name was Spud) was being driven down a mountainside in a hailstorm. He was a stubborn beast, but even so, his master (who was named Mario) was very fond of him. The two often got into trouble because of the Spud’s behavior, and Mario had been advised by several people to stop taking the “troublesome beast” on all his road trips. Mario was however determined to continue using the donkey, and that was why they were coming home in the hail. Spud had trampled a fruit cart, to get at some shiny, red, crisp apples. By the time Mario had gone to court, and been sued, it was to late to beat the storm home.
Spud didn’t seem to care about the trouble he had caused. In fact, he got busy listing every complaint he could think of. #1 The apples were not nearly as crispy as they had looked. Those people selling the fruit were stealing people’s money for rotten, old, shriveled apples. #2 Mario had taken far too much time in talking to some guy who had a white wig, a black robe, and a funny looking hammer that he banged on the table (the judge). #3 Now they were in a miserable hailstorm. Everything was conspiring against him!
Spud suddenly espied his stable at the bottom of the mountain. He was tired, and what was worse hungry. After all those apples had been horribly bad. He listed his complaints again. He glanced down the mountain. He decided to jump. He gave an exited bray and began to lumber towards the cliff edge. Registering what Spud was doing, Mario caught hold of the donkey’s tail. It momentarily stopped his mad flight to the edge, but only momentarily. Spud gave him a pleading look, then struggled forwards. Mario held on. They inched closer. One of spuds feet inched over the edge, then another, then they were plummeting downwards. Mario was still holding spuds tail when they hit bottom.
That was the way they were found. They had only fallen about twenty feet, so they lived. Sadly, Mario’s hand (they one that had held onto the tail) was amputated. Spuds tail had to go too. They both learned a lesson. Mario learned that sometimes holding on won’t help. It can hurt friends, and one’s self. Spud learned that it is recommendable to take advise.
The original story is known as THE ASS AND HIS DRIVER.
Brainchild Galore 